Beat Connection first appeared on our radars when they kindly released their debut EP, free to all last year. A few months later we found ourselves out in Brighton one evening and came across Toby Bull, who is part of the team behind the Moshi Moshi imprint label, Tender Age, who was DJing at the venue we had popped into. We got chatting and he planted a CD in our hands, demanding we “fall in love with this!“. It was Beat Connection’s single, Silver Screen.
We didn’t so much as fall in love with this single, (you know what a decidedly picky bunch we are!), but we were definitely interested in a second date, so kept an eye out for more. That more has now arrived. Beat Connection released their debut mini-album, Surf Noir, this month and the work shows off the Seattle residents, Jordan Koplowitz and Reed Juenger, in fine form.
They’ve brought in up to five other artists during different parts of the recording process and it’s resulted in a varied and full piece of work, which is often enriched by those in attendance, especially when you reach guest vocalist, Tom Eddy’s sublime efforts on the Silver Screen single. The album, which you can purchase on iTunes here, is a seasonal soundtrack in the waiting, perfect for your summery exploits.
The whole work enjoys a tidy pace throughout, smoothly transferring from one beach-side genre to another, as it delivers afropop moments on tracks such as Silver Screen, to the brightness of a more Balearic scene with tunes like Space Vacation. On occasion it suffers from being a little pedestrian, but with music this sunburnt you wouldn’t want anything more hurried. It’s highlights are still a worthy soundscape to backdrop any beautiful sunset. Fans of Washed Out will find plenty to love here, but where that artist befits a stoned chillwave dream, Beat Connection will most likely wake you from your slumber and accompany you on the terrace with a cocktail.
They are due to play a handful of sets at a busy Great Escape Festival in Brighton, this May, before heading out around the UK for the second half of the month. We have invited them to play at The Recommender’s after party at Audio on the Friday, so we will let you know if they confirm. It would prove the ideal antidote to a hectic day’s gigging, as well as a perfect transition from the Spring of May to the warm summer ahead of us. (MB)
BEAT CONNECTION – IN THE WATER
BEAT CONNECTION – SILVER SCREEN
BEAT CONNECTION – SPACE VACATION
SILVER COLUMNS – ALWAYS ON (BEAT CONNECTION REMIX)
You should also tune in to sunburn…arguably the best song by far …also available on this EP. Duane Eddy meets Beach Boys meets electronica. So pulsating and so melodic. I played it on my fuzzbox programme on Radio 101 (www.radio101.com.mt) last Thu. If John Peel were alive he would have probably fallen madly in love with it!! This should have been Boards of Canada’s new project. However these Seattle mavericks were a step ahead….and they can move places!!
[...] BEAT CONNECTION (2:45am – 3:45am): Their debut mini-album, Surf Noir, has just come out and as a result has worn down the buttons on many a blogger’s keyboard. A little bit disco, a little bit pop, a little bit house, a little bit tropical. A lot of good. Track – IN THE WATER [...]
[...] we will no doubt peak at our party on the Friday, where we have Alpines, Hey Sholay, Real Fur and Beat Connection ready to blow. Music bloggers get the VIB (very important blogger) treatment, with a queue jump and [...]
[...] only they know how to play, especially that bassist – he’s so watchable! Last up were Beat Connection who looked about twelve years old, but played like masters, closing off a long day at [...]
[...] is tidy and the music feels intelligently designed, but there’s little for the likes of Beat Connection to be jealous of, as this is the musical equivalent of finding out the popular, sharp-witted, [...]