Dead Pixels
Words by Daniel Indira
When is a pixel not a pixel? When it’s London-based, internationally acclaimed, electro-sleaze-peddling quintet Dead Pixels. OK, not the snappiest punch line in the world, but one that the aforementioned are pummeling into the hearts and minds of assorted European hipsters and fashionistas, East End coolites and all those with an appetite for mayhem.
Formed at the arse-end of a year and the dawn of a millennium, Dead Pixels have always reveled in contrasts, working their alchemy on a diverse array of influences; their sound a jittery blend of staccato synths, spiky guitars and hip- hop beats, all built around solid, old-fashioned tunes. “We’ve always tried to kick the rock out of rock and beat the electro out of electro and see what’s left”, explains founder member and bass player Peter. “It’s about sounds, not styles.”
Fellow formative Pixel Graeme concurs. “There has been a big evolution in our sound, but it’s always about taking the best elements of what we love and making them work for the melody we’re making, not the other way around. Too many people write for the style these days.”
Since their inception, the Pixels have expanded their original trio (Lone Blomhoj - vocals, Graeme Gaughan - guitars, Peter Simmons - bass) to include keyboard player Nuha Razik and drum-dervish Denis Gabillat, via a brief loan of Rakes beat-artist Lasse Petersen. The fuller live sound has stood them in good stead for a slew of European gigs and a burgeoning online following, but begs the question of why they are not better known back in Blighty.
Front-woman Lone is unperturbed: “London is such a hard city to get anyone’s attention” she sighs. “I love it, but I love to get out! We have been treated so well by people all over the UK; we love Bristol, and Liverpool, and...”(We’ll spare you the list, long and enthusiastic as it is). Suffice to say that the group’s tour schedule this year looks like a six-year old has got his hands on your sat-nav, and with a support slot on the Rakes UK tour as well as a clutch more of their own dates spattered across Europe, it looks like 2009 is going to be a busy year for Dead Pixels.
http://www.myspace.com/deadpixelsmusic
Posted Mon, March 30, 2009