Song of the Day: Beat Connection - Hesitation

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 Morning Show with DJ John Richards, is "Hesitation", the new self-released single by Seattle band Beat Connection.

Beat Connection - Hesitation (MP3)

"Hesitation" marks Beat Connection's third KEXP Song of the Day, after 2012's "Think/Feel" together with Chelsey Scheffe and 2010's BC classic "In The Water". The three mark very distinct milestones for the band, now half a decade into their career and on the cusp of playing the main stage at Capitol Hill Block Party for the second time. Birthed out of a love for nu-disco and the indie electronic scene of the late 2000s, Beat Connection helped usher in a new era for the Seattle electronic scene. The band and its live setup grew pretty naturally to the increasing size of the stages, and now, the band has quite a foothold on the local scene. Dance beats are counteracted by a tropical breeze, and the forward action of the bass drum never outdoes the warm sense of euphoria that crowns each one of their tracks. While more recent Seattle electronic acts like ODESZA have adapted this mixture of positive vibes of hard-hitting dance tracks to their own liking, there's still something entirely unique and undeniably magical about the way that Beat Connection does it.

In new single "Hesitation", Beat Connection do all of the above in the most radio friendly, concise, and brilliant fashion they've done so with yet. A far cry from the four-to-the-floor pound of their disco past, "Hesitation" opens with a half time boom clap beat with a warm flute and marimba sample to top. The track is a supernatural evolution of Palace Garden material to the progressive electronic context. Once the beat has time to set in, Tom Eddy slides in an instant sing-a-long of a verse. The balance of sound and space here is divine, especially when Eddy's guitars come in on the chorus. There is a synergy at hand that few bands have the grace and restraint to pull off, and Beat Connection do it like clockwork. "Hesitation" is an instant classic and a worthy addition to any summer playlist for this year and years to come.

Grab "Hesitation" above and catch Beat Connection on the main stage at Capitol Hill Block Party Saturday July 26 at 7:30. Grab tickets here.