The best band you've never heard of

+ playlists for Peak Autumn 🍂

Nov 07, 2022

I first heard of Beatenberg back in 2012 through the South African arts blogger Miss Moss, who described them as having a “paul simonesque/vampire weekendy/john mayerish (minus the douchebaginess) sorta sound.” Naturally, I was all in. Based in Cape Town, the band became an instant favorite from afar. In 2014, they gained prominence in S.A. after a bouncy tune with DJ Clock, “Pluto,” became the top song in the country for 19 weeks. Two years later, they teamed up with Mumford & Sons on a collaborative EP featuring singer Matthew Field’s distinct voice. Along the way, they released two lovely albums, while I patiently awaited a US tour.

Then — they went away. As Field told me, “We did some touring in 2019 but then the pandemic hit and, all being in different cities, we were forced into a kind of break that turned out to be really beneficial for us.”

Indeed it was! The band’s four new singles pick up right where they left off: “White Shadow,” “Time Machine,” “The Lighthouse of Alexandria” and “Symposium” all carry the warmth and wistful calm of their best work. As drummer Robin Brink put it, “There’s definitely a grounded energy to the music — this EP is a reset before moving on to the material we’re working on for 2023.”

Fresh off a set of arena shows opening for George Ezra, the band’s upcoming tour will make stops in NYC, LA, and major European cities. (They’re also playing SXSW.) Field says they’re “excited and curious to see the response. Really glad to be revisiting New York and I think none of us has ever been to LA, so that'll be fun. We definitely want to attend to listeners on that side of the world and build some sort of presence there.”

If they hit your city, try to catch ‘em — and spread the word about this talented trio.

More songs to stream from under-the-radar artists

As always, follow the Hear Hear playlist for all of these recs in one place.

“Suburbia,” NoSo. As NPR Music’s Marissa Lorusso put it, NoSo has a “knack for dreamy, intimate songwriting,” evident on this lush ode to the Chicago suburbs — including a much-appreciated nod to bar mitzvahs. (They just played a Tiny Desk too.)
“Hey Margarita” and “Love Is Perfect Kindness,” Busman’s Holiday. This delightful duo continues to make inviting, poppy indie-folk.
“Message (Better Days),” PawPaw Rod. Gentle, horn-laden soul from an exciting emerging LA-based singer and rapper.
“Oh Cecilia,” Born Ruffians. The Ruffs have finally released this fan-favorite 2013 deep cut on streaming services — and it’s just as addicting as all of their other tunes.
Luv 4 Rent, Smino. On his third album, Smino continues to craft his unique brand of slinky, soulful hip-hop — he excels in “sultry falsettos, funkafied productions, and clever wordplay” according to Pitchfork’s Heven Haile. It’s a delightful front-to-back listen, but a couple of tracks stand out: “Blu Billy” and “Louphoria.”
Stereogum’s 2022 “Best New Bands” playlist: Okay, this is 40 songs, but Stereogum’s annual list is a wonderful way to discover great new artists every year. You’ll recognize a couple of names — Dijon and Ethel Cain — from previous Hear Hear issues. There are two more featured artists I’m excited about — Pool Kids (Paramore-endorsed emo) and Why Bonnie (“cozy/fuzzy guitar tones”). The other 36 artists are mostly unknown to me, and I can’t wait to dive in.

ICYMI: Phoenix ft. Vampire Weekend is as catchy as you’d expect

“Tonight,” from the band’s new album Alpha Zulu, has quickly become one of my favorite songs of the year. Matthew Perpetua captured the track nicely in Fluxblog, writing that it “feels a lot like Phoenix’s biggest hit ‘1901,’ mainly in the way the grooves circle each other — one guitar figure suggesting a hesitant movement forwards, the rush into the chorus cutting loose and embracing a carefree acceleration.”

🍁 Playlists for Peak Autumn 🍁

Meeting Autumn Halfway, Vol. 3 from writer and curator Hanif Abdurraqib // ft. Thundercat, Mereba, Sly & The Family Stone, Nick Drake, and a bunch of cool Radiohead covers.
Autumn ‘22 from Ryan Schreiber, writer of newsletter What’s Good // ft. standout songs from “the past nine months that feel especially optimized for the change of season,” from artists like Ari Lennox, Nick Hakim, Vince Staples, and Ethel Cain.
Fall Selects from Jamie Coletta, founder of music PR company No Earbuds // ft. seasonal pop-punk & rock to get you “in the mood for cooler, cozier energy” from Caracara, Ratboys, Bartees Strange, Foxing, Pool Kids + more.
Fall Mix No. 03 - 2022 from Laura Filas, curator of online record shop Time Out // ft. “pairs of songs with contrasting and/or parallel sounds/themes/lyrical qualities; ordered to flow with each other” from Paul Simon, The Kinks, Hand Habits, Whitney + more.
FALL 2022 from music supervisor Jules Zucker // “a soundtrack to your wistful autumn walks” ft. Julia Jacklin, Pom Pom Squad, Widowspeak, Kate Bollinger + more.