Leftfield alt pop duo Me And My Drummer release their debut album The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey via Sinnbus on 24th September 2012.
With their single You’re A Runner, vocalist / keyboardist Charlotte Brandi and drummer Matze Pröllochs have already caused quite a stir. The single received heavy support from XFM’s John Kennedy and Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6Music’s Tom Ravenscroft and Chris Hawkins were also fans plus BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens. NME, Spinner and The 405 also supported the band with fantastic coverage of the single, video and live.
On the album The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey, there’s a real feeling that you’re taking an intimate journey with the band from start to finish. Starting introspectively with “Phobia”, the track builds and crescendos into a gloriously epic finish. Single “You’re A Runner” follows suit starting quietly, climbing to a glorious cacophonous end and before you know it, it’s over – a beautiful little slice of intelligent pop. With “The Wings”, however, there’s a change of pace. There’s something slightly trip-hop about the simple, off-kilter beats and Charlotte’s delicate, harrowing vocals sliding seductively over the music, akin to bands like Portishead and Lamb. It’s after this track that the album starts to change direction with “Down My Couch” and “Heavy Weight”. The latter’s summery dance pop beats and interesting breakdowns could easily contend with the best of what the alternative side of the pop has to offer – imagine if Florence Welch fronted Friendly Fires. Me And My Drummer’s journey reaches its completion on a quiet note – “Runner (Reprise)”. But as the last track comes to a close, you’ll find yourself hitting the play button all over again as each track reveals something new upon each listen.
Charlotte Brandi and Matze Pröllochs met in Tübingen (Matze’s hometown), Germany, whilst working in a theatre; they were both stage musicians signed on for three productions in a row but it was their mutual musical inspirations that brought them together. The pair site Micachu And The Shapes, Beach House, The Roots, Ella Fitzgerald and M.I.A. as some of their melodic influences. Hip hop, electro and pop have all had a baring on how they write music, which is clear to hear on The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey.
With brilliant press already received in their native Germany from Rolling Stone, MTV, Musikexpress and Radio 1, Me And My Drummer are ready to take their dream pop sounds to UK – they are undoubtedly one of the most exciting emerging bands to come from Berlin in a while.
Featured video of the day is their stunning video for Heavy Weight, check it out here,
