Beat Connection

Surf Noir warrants perked ears regardless, but that it's just the first music put to wax by Beat Connection suggests it's worth more than just a passing listen. In less than 30 minutes, the Seattle, WA duo lay down a stacked hand, with influences ranging from hazy dream pop to Basque-region Balearic dance, performed with all the laidback panache of a west coast Vampire Weekend. You'd never guess Beat Connection are from a rainy town ― the majority of the eight tracks are sun-speckled, feel-good anthems. Or, at least, the highlights are: six-and-a-half-minute centrepiece "Theme from Yours Truly" is the definite climax, its heavy, four-to-the-floor beat bouncing ebulliently beneath sparkly synths and echoed female vocals. Among fellow standouts "In The Water" and new single "Silver Screen" lie slower, more pensive numbers, but they don't derail Surf Noir's momentum. If anything, they bring balance and maturity to the EP, qualities rarely seen in a band so young. Potential's a tricky thing, and Beat Connection have it in spades; the question is, where will they go from here?