BM LINX: Understanding Orange [mp3]

It’s not everyday that an underground NYC band is branded with the stamp of approval by rock zealots such as Alan Moulder but BM LINX, with their infectious style of beat-driven electro rock, have managed to do just that and much more.  The famed British alternative rock record producer discovered BM LINX while passing through NYC and immediately fell in love with the glittery and lacquered-up myriad of rhythmic sounds that drive audiences to sway their hips and tap their feet right up until the very last strum of frontman Tony Diodore’s guitar.  Moulder, after working with a veritable who’s who of famed artists such as Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Depeche Mode (just to name a few), decided to take on BM LINX as a mixing project in his London studio.  The results are nothing short of stellar.

So who on earth is BM LINX, you might ask? Technically speaking, a three-piece based in Manhattan; featuring songwriter/producer Tony Diodore on guitar and lead vocals, Andrew Griffiths on drums, and Jonathan Murray on bass. Originally formed in 2005 by Diodore and Murray, BM LINX was always meant to be a genre-transcending band with a message that goes well beyond the usual lap dance party tracks most DJ’s tend to drop.  Not only do they infuse their tracks with the sounds of an eclectic collection of electronic instruments, they also spike their songs with the shimmer of hard-hitting guitar riffs and Diodore’s soaring vocals.  Watch out, this is the kind of music that’ll seep through your skin and send you flying to the dance floor.

Their driving, impulsive electro-beats, backed by an exhilarating live show, has attracted club-heads and rock and roll enthusiasts alike.  The band has been playing shows everywhere since renowned booking agency Vital Talent picked them up.  They were showcased at the legendary SXSW in 2007, and went on to perform at Scion NextFest in Puerto Rico.  In addition, their song, “Understanding Orange,” has received critical acclaim.  The song was used in promos for the 2007 drama, “Hidden Palms” on the CW Network, which estimated a viewership in excess of 3 million.  But what’s most fascinating most about “Understanding Orange”, like the rest of the band’s tunes, is the shimmer of guitar instrumentation that injects the perfect amount of “good ol’ rock and roll” into their contagiously dark, and sometimes sinister, electronic melodies. The result?  A blend of original music unlike anything heard in years, a blend attracting the likes of super producer Alan Moulder. The band also drew the attention of numerous up-and-coming producers such as DJ/producer Samio, whose remix of “Understanding Orange” made its rounds in the sets of legendary DJ’s such as Deep Dish at the 2006 Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach.

Their first album, The Portable Genius, produced by Diodore, was self-released and immediately caught fire in the NYC underground scene.  In February of 2008, BM LINX were the first act to be signed to Craze Factory Entertainment, and since then have been working on their anticipated sophomore release, Black Entertainment, which features a bigger, bolder rock and roll sound than their debut.  Also produced by Diodore, Black Entertainment was mixed at Assault & Battery Studios in the UK by Alan Moulder.  The tracks were recorded in NYC at Stratosphere Sound Studios, which is co-owned by the alt-rock god himself, James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins.  Black Entertainment will be available digitally on August 26th and in stores everywhere September 16th.  But if you can’t wait that long, their new single, “Kids On Fire,” hits the radio on July 15th and will be available soon afterwards on iTunes, Rhapsody, and other Internet-based music services.