There’s been no shortage of indie-oriented dance pop releases this year, to the point that the scene is on the verge of oversaturation. Beat Connection’s debut full-length, The Place Garden, however, is proving a worthy addition to the genre. Following last year’s Surf Noir EP, the Seattle-based outfit has gone through a major makeover, expanding from a duo to a four-piece and enlisting new member Tom Eddy on lead vocals. The changes couldn’t be better. With a sense a restraint rarely seen in a dance-pop band, Beat Connection strikes the perfect balance between anthemic hooks and welcomed musical modesty, never letting its dance-oriented jams get carried away or biting off more than it can chew. Often, in fact, the highlight is the simple mix of electronic and organic percussion, keeping a chill vibe as the songs carefully unfold. That’s not to say the synths are never strong and the beats don’t get bangin’, but they are often creatively complemented with other instrumental flourishes, such as horns (“Saola”) and steel drums (“Further Out”), not to mention Eddy’s vocals, which are flexible and warm but never over-the-top. Sure, Beat Connection isn’t striking any major new ground here, but The Place Garden is a wholly enjoyable listen, and sometimes that’s all you need.
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