Wild Belle

Isles (Columbia)

Call it the Taylor Swift effect: girl meets boy, boy breaks girl’s heart, girl writes a million catchy songs about it. Chicago siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman weave reggae influences into an indie rock ethos on a debut preoccupied with matters of the heart. “Keep You” embodies the tension, irresistibly seductive as Natalie purrs throatily with her honeyed timbre while cleverly tweaking feminine insecurities and addressing her inconstant lover as “little man.” “Shine” finds the singer basking in the warmth of a summery confection, but “Twisted” shimmers as she reflects on material expressions of love such as fancy cars and diamond rings. The Bergmans’ sustained engagement with and interrogation of popular conceptions of romantic love saves their bacon. Without their smart lyrics and complex instrumentation, listeners would feel like they’re listening to the same song again and again. (8pm, Haven)

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This article appears in March 15 • 2013.

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