​Having already released two of the 21st century's most sublime minimal electronic albums--2004's Diamond Daze and 2007's This Bliss--on the esteemed German label Dial, it seemed like Pantha du Prince (a/k/a Hendrik Weber) had found a comfortable home. Then it was announced that the artist's third album, Black Noise, would be on the legendary Rough Trade imprint. The switch was both startling and strangely appropriate, as the notoriously pop-friendly Rough Trade has a secret history of releasing challenging electronic music--Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire both have places of pride in the label's catalogue. So what could we expect from a Pantha du Prince record on a new label? News that Weber had collaborated with former !!! member Tyler Pope and the Animal Collective's Panda Bear on the album made purists wonder if he wasn't veering into indie-pop territory. But never fear--Black Noise expands the sound palette of his previous efforts, but still finds Weber making the most startlingly organic and gorgeous electronic music out there. In anticipation of his first US appearance in over three years (at Santos Party House tonight), we skyped with Weber to ask about his favorite Rough Trade artists, his pre-Pantha music, and why Black Noise can make the head reel.

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