CoachellAltDelight brings attention to special artists that will be featured in Indio come April.
Some we love. Some we just discovered. All essential.
Click here for more from this series.
15/22 Days

Part funk, part glitch, part indie, all groovy. Hailing from Oslo, Norway this Scandinavian electronica duo is sure to be one of the more upbeat and memorable performances in the desert. Lemaitre (pronounced lem-my-tray) consists of former classmates Ketil Jansen and Ulrik Denizou Lund and boy do these two know their synths. Fusing traditional instruments and original synth melodies seamlessly, every Lemaitre production is carefully crafted and proportioned perfectly.

The viking duo’s 2016 is already off to a massive start with the release of their EP earlier this year 1749. Sonically, this release has a heavy use of piano and takes a few cues from neo-French touch music in the same vain as Breakbot or SebastiAn. Their live set is not one to miss. See you out there at the Polo Club.

Lemaitre – Stepping Stone feat. Mark Johns

Lemaitre – Closer feat. Jennie A

Lemaitre – Cut to Black

Madeon – Pay No Mind feat. Passion Pit (Lemaitre Remix)

If you are looking to drown under a wave of indie beach-rock goodness, look no further: DIIV’s recent LP ‘Oshin’ is your answer. It’s the same sort of glimmering daze to get lost in as the likes of Beach Fossils and Real Estate. It is sun-drenched and ethereal as anything of or pertaining to dream pop but it really is instantly addicting. Amongst its tipsy clatter and distilled guitars, it is rooted in something very solid. These Brooklyn-based dudes really have natural talent. Everything comes together to form a glassy album that seamlessly glides from one track to the next; you’re never left to wonder about the musicians themselves–the attention is purely on the music. This is a gloriously restorative album for the brain.

DIIV on FaceBook | Buy ‘Oshin’ on iTunes|DIIV on Twitter

1. (Druun)
2. Past Lives
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/DIIV/02%20Past%20Lives.mp3]
3. Human
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/DIIV/03%20Human.mp3]
4. Air Conditioning
5. How Long Have You Known?
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/DIIV/05%20How%20Long%20Have%20You%20Known.mp3]
6. Wait
7. Earthboy
8. (Druun), Pt. II
9. Follow
10. Sometime
11. Oshin (Subsume)
12. Doused
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/DIIV/12%20Doused.mp3]
13. Home
14. Geist (Bonus Track)
15. Bambi Slaughter (Bonus Track)

Seattle’s Beat Connection is something of a hidden gem on the chill-wave front. In the chill-wave-tidal-wave of our present year they’re doing something right and are sure to quickly float to the top. They have the given elements of their genre nailed–synthy-escapist ambiences floating through tribal clamor, but their debut LP Palace Garden has something else to it that makes it a bit more real. I think it manages to sneak past and beyond all of the other chill-wave bands of the moment. Despite its ethereal appeal, it’s not something you want to listen to face-down in your pillow at night, and you’re not going to be at risk of falling asleep at the wheel if you’re listening to it on the road.

It’s colors are more glaring and its beats more grooving. You’re gonna want to move to this stuff, and honestly it’s hard not to. Try sitting still listening to the title track, for instance. Their music is energetic and swift, so it’s not surprising that I’ve only heard wonderful things about their live performances. If all this isn’t enough to sell you, they’ve been on tour with Starfucker, a C+A+D essential. They’re young and on fire and are only getting better. Snag the album and keep your eyes open for these dudes.

Beat Connection on FaceBook | Buy ‘Palace Garden’ on iTunes

1. New Criteria
2. Palace Garden 4 Am
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/beat%20connection/02%20Palace%20Garden%2c%204%20Am.mp3]
3. Soala
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/beat%20connection/03%20Saola.mp3]
4. Oeuvreboard
5. Invisible Cities
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/beat%20connection/05%20Invisible%20Cities.mp3]
6. Trap House
7. Think Feel (Feat. Chelsey Scheffe)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/beat%20connection/07%20Think%20Feel%20%28feat.%20Chelsey%20Scheffe%29.mp3]
8. Foreign Embassy
9. Further Out
10. Other Side of the Sky
11. Sometimes Wonder
12. En Route

Replicants. Download this album. Right. Now. Very rarely will I tell you to do this and only when I feel very strongly about an album. It’s a synthy vacation, teetering on the borders of chillwave but without ever falling into the trap of the Washed Out wannabe. It features grooving elements of indie pop with often eerily distorted vocals. It is an addictive blend of funk nostalgia and bubbling techno-pop. My words don’t do it justice, really. I’m more or less in love.

For fans of:
Phantogram, Washed Out, Neon Indian, Craft Spells, Small Black, Memory Tapes

1. Obelisk
2. Cosmonaut
3. Easy Now
4. On-On
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/replicants/08%20On%20On.mp3]
5. Replicants
6. Tokyo 3
7. 001
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/replicants/01%20001.mp3]
8. Forerunner
9. Perfect Eyes
10. Calrissian
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/replicants/02%20Calrissian.mp3]
11. Sentimental
12. Gravity Feels
13. Syanthropic

Wildcat! Wildcat! is three of Los Angeles’ own brewing some fresh synthtastic indie jamz. They’ve only released two songs thus far but I’m sure once they release an EP or a full length they’ll make it pretty big in the indie scene. I’ve got them on my radar and you should too.

Wildcat! Wildcat! – End Of The World Everyday by Wildcat! Wildcat!

Wildcat! Wildcat! – Mr. Quiche by Wildcat! Wildcat!