Bel Tempo

About

" a swirl of dance-inflected avant-pop from Latvia "

Bel Tempo is not the kind of act that likes to take an idea and stick with it until they run out of gas. And even though they’re somewhat new in the industry (their first single was “Think Too Much” in 2018) their music doesn’t quite fit into an expected box, but it exists in its own space- their debut EP “Pessimismus”, released in June 2022, proves that. “Not knowing what is what/because we don’t care enough” … It begins with the eponymous almost gloom and doom statement in processed vocals that fits perfectly to the title before “Nobody” breaks in, a funky, late-night groover; and from there, “DeepBluSea” takes charge: inventive arrangements with plenty of odd sounds and an interesting juxtaposition of instruments, featuring the also Latvian-born and super talented hip-hop artist Eliza Legzdina. The EP closes with club friendly “Don’t” and “Apologies”, a velvety track which Harry Styles probably would love.

Andis Ansons and Julijs Raimonds Melngailis met at a songwriting camp in Riga before starting to make music together. Their indie electro was well-performed from the beginning with pulsating beats and smooth storytelling even in their cheerless moments (e.g. “Fat Piece of Bacon” single, 2020), and they built on this basis steadily and inspiringly. The feeling of the Baltic duo’s work is that this compelling batch of songs they create, that sounds good over headphones might work even better in a stage full of a discerning audience.