Stateless: Live

Hot tip Stateless have certainly impressed the right people with their music so far. Their singer Chris James appeared on hip hop legend DJ Shadows last album.

While his bands material is more head spinning rock than Shadows latest hyphy works, they take varied influences on board.

Like Kasabian the five-piece arent afraid of a chunky beat or two but theres also smart cutting and scratching from DJ Kidkanevil. The off beat skittering (almost freeform) drumming on opener Prism is especially strong.

Radio Killers bizarre piano lines combine with a solid breakbeat to become a dancefloor shattering tune.

Next single Exit sees atmospheric bass and Chriss vocals echo into oblivion. Its clear why hes had other suitors with a strong voice thats both sweet and sour. Though its hard to pin down the nearest comparison is Thom Yorke.

Most importantly Stateless are not remotely like The Libertines or the current bands ripping them off and their trip-hop-rock certainly deserves investigating.

Tom Thorogood

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