aaamusic | On 02, May 2012

“16 Minutes”, out 25th June, is the second single to be lifted from Belleruche’s fourth album, ‘Rollerchain’, which drops on 7th May.

 

The first single, “Stormbird”, announced the advent of a new sound from Belleruche, back in March; with twisted, tempo-shifting distortion aplenty, it has clocked up 100,000 YouTube hits plus support from Steve Lamacq, Huey Morgan and Nemone on BBC 6Music; DJ Mag, Artrocker and more. Now “16 Minutes” – a captivating song of regret and reflection – flips the stylistic switch to show a softer but no less striking side to the acclaimed London trio.

 

The simple driving bassline, angelic yet raw vocals, sparse beats and gradual multi-layered build of the beautifully lo-fi “16 Minutes” make for an addictive and affecting song. As Belleruche hone and channel new inspirations alongside their time-honoured offbeat fusion of bluesy rock guitar, soul/jazz vocals and hip hop beats, newcomers could be forgiven for thinking they’ve stumbled upon a lost record made by members of the XX and Little Dragon.

 

With their brand new LP ‘Rollerchain’, Belleruche have created a more bass heavy and darker sound in the studio and onstage, whilst still retaining that melodic soulful touch that sets them apart and has gained them a worldwide fanbase. Showcasing a very modern aesthetic combined with classic song writing ability, the album is a collision of haunting vocals, tough analogue sounds and bleeding edge electronic production. Both in the studio and onstage, Belleruche have picked up new instruments and ideas to create a complexity and an attack that take the core elements – vocals (care of Kathrin deBoer), guitar (Ricky Fabulous) and turntables (DJ modest) – to a new level. With a new sound has come a new audience and much media attention, including features in Artrocker, the Independent blog, Clash and more.

 

Previous recipients of Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6Music Rebel Playlist and iTunes Single Of The Week, Belleruche have won themselves a fervent fanbase both at home and abroad, through the deep and offbeat yet instantly loveable sound of their three previous LPs, ‘Turntable Soul Music’, ‘The Express’ and ‘270 Stories’. Defined by a down-to-earth DIY spirit, a real affinity with their fans, and a boundless enthusiasm for playing their music to as many people as possible, they are consistently in demand as a live act, and have toured major venues in the USA, UK, Europe, Australia and beyond, plus festivals as diverse as SXSW, Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party and Montreux.