Music
Press
“This E.P. is moody, magnificent and decadent - the Nico of the rave generation has returned with a stealth-bomb of a record, with a tranced-out charm of its own.”
Ben Wood, Bearded Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Ben Wood
“This E.P. is moody, magnificent and decadent - the Nico of the rave generation has returned with a stealth-bomb of a record, with a tranced-out charm of its own.”
Ben Wood, Bearded Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Ben Wood
“The Carpenters of electro… dark, electronic pop: scalpel-sharp lyrical observations juxtaposed with shimmering production to magnetic effect.”
Ben Murphy, DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Ben Murphy
“The Carpenters of electro… dark, electronic pop: scalpel-sharp lyrical observations juxtaposed with shimmering production to magnetic effect.”
Ben Murphy, DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Ben Murphy
“The high priestess of electronic soul… her voice is unmistakable – ridden with drama and soul – sounding like Marlene Dietrich by way of Diamanda Galas.”
Gregor Laird, The Skinny (Glasgow magazine) - Gregor Laird
“The high priestess of electronic soul… her voice is unmistakable – ridden with drama and soul – sounding like Marlene Dietrich by way of Diamanda Galas.”
Gregor Laird, The Skinny (Glasgow magazine) - Gregor Laird
“A female, modern-day Marc Almond… this E.P. of throbbing electro-disco, torch soul and narcotic pop is awesome.”
Jason Riley, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Jason Riley
“A female, modern-day Marc Almond… this E.P. of throbbing electro-disco, torch soul and narcotic pop is awesome.”
Jason Riley, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide) - Jason Riley
“I’m sold – enraptured by hearing THAT voice in person. The new sound builds on the classic Electribe 101 template, so there’s a definite place for songwriting, but also a dry wit and intelligence you don’t often find in the pop charts.“
Music Like Dirt (online review of The Opiates live at Rough Trade East) - Music Like Dirt
“I’m sold – enraptured by hearing THAT voice in person. The new sound builds on the classic Electribe 101 template, so there’s a definite place for songwriting, but also a dry wit and intelligence you don’t often find in the pop charts.“
Music Like Dirt (online review of The Opiates live at Rough Trade East) - Music Like Dirt
“The Opiates produce a very chilled, yet brain stimulating brand of electro beats mixed in with very soulful vocals. Truly and completely a work of musical mastery.”
Paul Richards, Noize Makes Enemies (online magazine) - Paul Richards
“The Opiates produce a very chilled, yet brain stimulating brand of electro beats mixed in with very soulful vocals. Truly and completely a work of musical mastery.”
Paul Richards, Noize Makes Enemies (online magazine) - Paul Richards
“Some beautiful downbeat electronica, with Martin’s distinctive voice… from this release, things are looking good.”
Beat Surrender (online magazine) - Beat Surrender
“Some beautiful downbeat electronica, with Martin’s distinctive voice… from this release, things are looking good.”
Beat Surrender (online magazine) - Beat Surrender
“A glacial quartet of mournful electro-ballads bathed in sumptuous spaciousness. The low slung Marlene Dietrich-pitched vocals are the icing on the cake… this new venture sounds so fresh, unforced and 2008-friendly.”
Beatmag.net (online magazine) - Beatmag.net
“A glacial quartet of mournful electro-ballads bathed in sumptuous spaciousness. The low slung Marlene Dietrich-pitched vocals are the icing on the cake… this new venture sounds so fresh, unforced and 2008-friendly.”
Beatmag.net (online magazine) - Beatmag.net
“A bleep-fest of epic proportions, which really serves as yet another vehicle for Martin’s butter-soaked soul…”
Subba-Cultcha (online magazine) - Subba-Cultcha
“A bleep-fest of epic proportions, which really serves as yet another vehicle for Martin’s butter-soaked soul…”
Subba-Cultcha (online magazine) - Subba-Cultcha
“Candy Coated Crime ist die bombe!”
DJ Hell - DJ Hell
“Candy Coated Crime ist die bombe!”
DJ Hell - DJ Hell
Discography
2008 - ANATOMY OF A PLASTIC GIRL (EP)
Photos
Bio
The Opiates
Forthcoming album: Hollywood Under The Knife
The Opiates started with the intention of being an ambient project. Bored, they soon said: f…ck this, and wrote the kind of songs that moved them in cerebral as well as booty shaking ways.
The Opiates are Billie Ray Martin (and Robert Solheim on production).
Their forthcoming album ‘Hollywood Under The Knife’ explores paths pioneered by the Chicago house and Detroit techno heroes, not least Electribe 101, with the aim of taking things forward a step in history.
Although Kraftwerk and Yazoo have been mentioned as influences, their very unique brand of electronic music is as much Carpenters as it is cutting-edge electro, with a nod to current minimal influences.
The Opiates are radical because they do not shy away from the rare match of songwriting and cutting-edge beats and bleeps.
The Opiates will boldly go where the best of electronic duo crossover albums have gone before and will appeal as much to the charts as to the underground, to film and television as much as radio and beyond.
Already championed by Dj’s such as Mark Moore and Dj Hell.
www.myspace.com/opiatesmusic
www.myspace.com/billieraymartin
Notes to Editors:
Dubbed "the queen of electronic soul", Billie Ray Martin first came to prominence leading the acclaimed deep house act Electribe 101, her unique voice leaving critics struggling to find words to match its beauty. Electribe 101 scored a brace of hits including the classic ‘Talking With Myself’ before Billie departed to continue exploring fusions of electronic music and soul. After releasing the thoroughly scary ‘Persuasion’ and the monumentally beautiful ‘Four Ambient Tales’, Billie found herself with a worldwide number 1 with ‘Your Loving Arms’, now regarded as one of the all-time classics of dance music. Three more hits and the album ‘Deadline for My Memories’ followed.
Since then Billie has worked with Ann Peebles, Carla Thomas and members of Aretha Franklin's band on her album ‘18 Carat Garbage’, Dj.Hell on his album NYMuscle, and has continued to release cutting-edge electronic productions, such as her recent single ‘Undisco Me’ - currently making an impression Stateside, having just entered the Billboard dance charts at number 35 and making it to number 6 in the European dance charts. Billie is also currently working on her new solo album as well as other collaborations, including a new song with Dj.Hell for his forthcoming album, out in the autumn of 2008.
Her DJ’ing career is going strong, allowing her to spin worldwide her own brand of sexy electo-tech and tech house to rave reviews and reactions.
Links
