New Bell - "Magic Tape" (Stereogum Premiere)

Since we first labeled Bell a Band To Watch and asked her to cover Björk, the Moscow-born, Alaska-raised Brooklyn piano instructor and composer has added fractures, spaces, and fake-outs to her already ambitious constructions. When she played the Gummy Awards, she took a more percussive approach with current bandmates Jason Nazary and Gunnar Olsen. For "Magic Tape," the A-Side to her forthcoming two syllable 7", Bell shreds the map of her previous electro landscapes, taping it back together in unexpected, layered formations. The cover art was created by Ben Tousley, who also did Grizzly Bear's Yellow House: Its muted but colorful shards suit the music perfectly. Take a look, listen:

Bell - "Magic Tape" (MP3)

Visual accompaniment:

The "Magic Tape" b/w "Housefire 2.0" 7"/digital download is out 3/24 via twosyllable. It's currently available for pre-order at the aforementioned label and Bell's MySpace. Here's a live version of "Housefire" minus the 2.0. Speaking of which, Bell's heading on tour with Asobi Seksu in early March then to SXSW to play with other folks:

03/02 - Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa #
03/03 - Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo #
03/04 - Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom #
03/05 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle #
03/06 - Bloomington, IL @ Illinois Wesleyan U.-Young #
03/07 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry #
03/10 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey #
03/11 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge #
03/13 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent #
03/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador #
03/15 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #
03/18 - Austin, TX @ Club de Ville - Brooklyn Vegan Showcase (SXSW) $
03/19 - Austin, TX @ Scholz Garden - twosyllable/I Guess I'm Floating Party (SXSW) &
03/24 - Bloomington, IN @ Cinemat ^

# w/ Asobi Seksu
$ w/ w/ Phosphorescent, Those Darlins, and others
& w/ Women, New Villager, Parenthetical Girls, Oh No Oh My, and others
^ w/ Lemonade

Posted at 10:56 AM by brandon in MP3, Tour Dates
Tags: Bell

5 Comments

hot damn!

Posted by: dan at 02/24/09 11:23 AM  | Reply
Score = 0

aaawesooooomeeee!!!!

Posted by: ben at 02/24/09 12:13 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

i really like bell ...

Posted by: charalito at 02/24/09 4:06 PM  | Reply
Score = 1

GO GURL ITS YR BIRTHDAY

Posted by: drew at 02/24/09 4:15 PM  | Reply
Score = 1

That cover is mesmerizing. I love it. Cannot stop staring.

Posted by: Petworth at 02/25/09 12:00 AM  | Reply
Score = 0