Song of the Day: Beaty Heart - Lekka Freakout

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is "Lekka Freakout" by Beaty Heart from the 2014 album Mixed Blessings on Nusic Sounds.

Beaty Heart - Lekka Freakout (MP3)

Beaty Heart's name, quite possibly a self-fulfilling prophecy, signifies the way the group approaches composition. The UK trio strives to enliven, awaken, and re-animate through filtered psych-pop and heavily-layered percussion. With the release of a couple singles through their website and Soundcloud, Beaty Heart began acquiring a solid fan-base, receiving acclaim which compared them to other indie greats like Vampire Weekend, Animal Collective, and The Drums. Perhaps the positive press is due to the fact that each member of the London-based trio knows exactly how to keep an up-tempo rhythm. Whether it be the drum kit or the drum machine, the group successfully arranges their tracks to sound something like a gnarly acid trip on a street fair roller coaster. Like their name too, Beaty Heart's lyrics are representative of just how much this band actually loves the drums. "Lekka Freakout," a track from their upcoming debut album, serves as a prime example of their sonic capabilities. Asynchronous vocals, a marimba-influenced back-beat, and fuzzy guitar — these elements come together in quasi-afrobeat fashion and set the scene for a searingly hot night of jamming, dancing, or swaying with the unconventional layers explored in their track.

Beaty Heart is touring right now, and they will be in Seattle at Neumos on June 10. To pass the time until their arrival, you can watch their music video for "Lekka Freakout," purchase your tickets, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more exciting updates.