Beyoncé and Sleigh Bells to Team Up

Today brings the exciting, if slightly bizarre news that Beyoncé and Sleigh Bells are currently in studio under the Jerk-spiced wing of Major Lazer man Diplo. This unusual pairing is the latest example of a hookup between massive US R'n'B stars and their nerdier, whiter indie cousins.

Jamie Smith's decision to remix Gil Scott-Heron's latest LP, I'm New Here, was a fruitful one; the resulting shady eroto-funk was genuinely different and uplifting, even at its darkest. Jamie of The xx is also collaborating with mega-selling smooth-O Drake, with Florence Welch also rumoured to be involved.

The most daring (and best-praised) R'n'B/Rock hybrid album to emerge in recent-ish times, however, is surely Danger Mouse's The Grey Album, the now-famous merging of Beatles instrumentals with bars from Jay-Z's Black Album. It's well worth a listen: try this mashup of 'Yer Blues' and 'Moment of Clarity'.

Despite the recent form of crossover albums, I simply cannot see this latest collab working. Mixing bold American rap with understated British schmindie is easy enough, but Sleigh Bells, are a different proposition. They are genuinely, bowel-emptyingly loud. Despite her undoubted mastery of the pop song ('Crazy in Love' stands out), Beyoncé's last attempt to confound expectations, the lacklustre I Am...Sasha Fierce met with a tepid reception. Why should her joining forces with the maddest, noisiest shitslingers around be any different?