Artist of the week #9

Artist: Storm Queen

Standout track: Let's Make Mistakes

See also: Metro Area, Mock and Toof, LCD Soundsystem

Storm Queen is a group made of one half of Metro Area - Morgan Geist, and vocalist Damon C. Scott. Metro Area were a genre-spanning affair, mixing elements of R&B and disco with the harder sounds of house and techno, whilst also utilising an experimental mix of live and electronic instruments. Geist discovered Scott on a New York subway platform singing for the crowds, and thus began Storm Queen.

The duo's first release was the infectious "Look Right Through" - featuring some raw and emotive vocals, hinting at the busking experiences that Scott had gone through. Combined with this was an array of retro-tinged synths and vintage drum machine sounds, quite different from Geist's Metro Area style - not merely recycling, but creating as someone who has absorbed the classic house sound completely into his style. Big remixes from Jamie Jones and Aeroplane amongst others completed this first release, and promised much more to come.

Second single "It Goes On" added a little more euphoria to proceedings, but with the same gritty basslines and vintage drum patterns. Scott seems to improve with each outing, his voice soaring with heartbreak and anguish. Newest track "Let's Make Mistakes" sees a more vicious side to the singer, with his voice being punctuated by the housey stabs and rolling hi-hats courtesy of Geist.

This new project from Geist draws on all his experience with Metro Area, yet moves in a new, less glossy direction. With the addition of a vocalist as raw as Damon C. Scott, here's hoping the duo will be continuing to put out such quality and heartfelt house music.