Seraphina Lotkhamnga on April 30th, 2012

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Let us be the latest in a long line of online outlets to tout Wild Belle, the brother-sister duo from Chicago who sources say will have a major-label record deal done this week. Natalie and Elliot Bergman’s skank-inducing, reggae-influenced synth-pop has basically replaced the hype Lana Del Rey’s people have worked so hard to build up. No crash and burns here, though. At least not yet. Their infectious (and only) single, almost a dream concoction of what Santigold and Bianca Casady of CocoRosie might sound like after going on a slight dub detour, continues to pick up steam thanks to new fans won over at SXSW and Coachella this year – and with good reason. Natalie’s vocals coo in all the right places as she sings “Why can’t I keep you?” – and the rest of the melodies are delivered with a gumption that stomps along with those simple yet catchy saxophone riffs Elliot provides (when he isn’t manning the keyboards). With this shuffling psychedelic single, Wild Belle have paved their own way to a highly-anticipated debut LP. If they stick with the savvy sound they’ve created, shuffling them out the door isn’t something that will cross people’s minds any time soon.

||| Stream: “Keep You”

||| Live: Wild Belle plays Tuesday at the Constellation Room and Wednesday at the Troubadour with Tennis.

Photo by Caleb Condit