The indie / electronic music duo “Bel Tempo” or Julius Melngailis and Andis Ansons have released their debut mini-album “Pessimismus”, which consists of five compositions (one of which is an intro).
The EP’s song “DeepBluSea” was created together with Mikēlis Putniņš and the internationally acclaimed hip-hop artist Elīzas Legzdiņš, who has collaborated with world-famous names such as “Rudimental” and Hollywood actor Idris Elba. Rūdolfs Macats and Elizabete Gaile have also participated in the creation of several songs.
With “Pessimismus”, the duo tries to reflect the time we live in and, as the name of the album suggests, the songs are pessimistic.
“They highlight the shortcomings of public communication, as they reflect the anxiety that has seemed to have grown in society in recent years, and explore this phenomenon from an individual perspective. These feelings and themes have become more relevant for many in Latvia in connection with the recent geopolitical events, ”says Jūlijs Melngailis, the singer of“ Bel Tempo ”, about the mini-album.
The origins of “Bel Tempo” can be traced to the songwriting camp “RigaLive”, although it took place remotely – producer Andis Ansons lived and worked in Riga, but singer and composer Jūlijs Melngailis studied music composition in London. Both are influenced in their music by artists such as Caribou, Jungle, Sampha, Toro y Moi, etc., “combining sensual beats and analog synthesizer sounds with gentle vocals and pulsating guitar riffs that create a dancing and at the same time intimate atmosphere,” they claim.
It should be noted that “bel tempo” in Italian means “good time”, which is quite ironic, given that musicians started working in cities such as Riga and London, where “good time” is very rare … However, it can be to translate also as ‘having a good time’, and that is exactly what ‘Bel Tempo’ wants to give to its listeners, namely the refuge from the gray sky and puddles, from the cold wind and the annoying faces.
PAR. An easy-to-listen work that does not make you bother with wise thoughts about the meaning of life and its deepest meaning. If Bel Tempo wanted to allow listeners to have a good time and “take refuge from the gray sky and puddles, the cold wind and the annoying faces”, then the goal has been achieved. The best composition, of course, is “DeepBluSea”, also catches “Nobody” and “Don’t”.
AGAINST. However, it is better to listen to such music in a special club and in a special atmosphere, but even if you listen to it at home and on a computer, you would still want a full program and not just five pieces in the EP version.
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