Have You Heard? Sleigh Bells - It’s Just Us Now

Just a mere millisecond in to ‘It’s Just Us Now’, and it’s clear this is some guitar work courtesy of one Derek Miller. Sleigh Bells’ sound - identifiable by: irresistibly crunchy, lets-blow-out-the-speakers riffs, booming beats and the sublime powerhouse vocals of partner-in-crime Alexis Krauss - is unmistakeable.

Theirs is a killer juxtaposition; rough ’n ready glitch-fuelled rock on one side, melodies raised on ‘90s Rn’B on the other. Hip-hop indebted electronic beats backing the lot, Alexis’ ability to coat fierce lyricism with with more sugar than a sweet shop taking centre stage. After ‘Rule Number One’ and ‘Hyper Dark,’ it’s clear the pair are playing with expectations. Similarly, ‘It’s Just Us Now’ stop-starts with an addendum. It’s as disorienting as we could hope for from these two.