Brooklyn based Sleigh Bells are back with their signature noise pop style
Sleigh Bells – Bitter Rivals:
In one hell of a revival the rambunctious noise pop duo Sleigh Bells released their newest single Bitter Rivals. I am glad to see the band has not lost their traditional childish sense of humor. Light noodling, firm gasps and ‘Ahs’, a barking dog, and finger snaps all build up to the familiar thrashing guitars of Derek Miller and the somewhat distorted vocals of Alexis Krauss we might expect by now.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens(1859)
Something is seemingly different this time around. But is it subtle or is it craftily not so obvious? Could it be those super electro “pew-pew” sounds flying all over the track? Or is it the fact that we actually get a chance, for once, to stop and breath at well placed points? Then again, that is a super heavy outro they’re dishing out onto one’s speakers, which is very much the norm for them.
It is nice to be able to see that the band has progressed as we approach album number three, which not so shockingly will be titled Bitter Rivals. Sleigh Bells is headed off into the trendy direction of more heavy production and leaving their “lo-fi”ness behind. This transition is in no way a bad thing. I believe we should all be excited to hear what a cleaner sounding Sleigh Bells is like. If the band’s sound becomes more palatable then it’s only a matter of time until mom & pop are jamming out to some damn good music too. But who knows what kinds of delicious treats await us on LP3 and if the band has truly ‘cleaned’ up their act. Not that I’ve ever been one to complain about the loud and gritty sound of Sleigh Bells in the past.
If you enjoyed Bitter Rivals then you should let Sleigh Bells know by giving them a ‘Like’ on their Facebok Page.
The Sifting Pan 