ACL Artist Profile: Warpaint

While known primarily these days for it's beat-making (See: Flying Lotus, Baths) and lo-fi (See: No Age, Best Coast) scenes, Los Angeles is also home to many experimental and psychedelic groups. Perhaps the most exciting of these bands is Warpaint. The band has garnered significant praise from critics for their dreamy soundscapes and frighteningly good live shows, and they have even caught the attention of the people in Justin Timeberlake's camp. While their first album, The Fool, isn't due until Oct. 26, the band's excellent Exquisite Corpse EP, coupled with a bevy of new material, should be enough to gain the band even more fans at this year's ACL.

Displaying a sense of musicianship that is as awe-inspiring to hear as it is to watch live, the women in Warpaint make dense, moody, and downright gorgeous music. The intricate guitar work of front woman Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman, the prominent bass lines of Jenny Lee Lindberg, and the way drummer Stella Mozgawa plays the hell out of her kit combine with their dreamlike harmonies to create a sound that recalls the best aspects of psychedelic and post-punk. The band maintains an uncommonly good sense of control while making their flourishes, such as on the must-listen track "Elephants," sound vital and spontaneous, a rare feat for a band that has not even released a full album.

Wairpaint's live track record is a pretty stellar one. In concert, all four members sound extremely tight, and they play off each other effortlessly. The result is a live set that is capable of putting listeners in a trance and pulling them into another place. The group's set as this year's Austin PsychFest was far and away one of the highlights of the weekend, and they are currently opening in support of their unlikely gold-selling compatriots in The xx (who will also play this year's ACL). Like the young Londoners, Warpaint's music is meant to be enjoyed live at night, so it will be interesting to see how they will fare in their slot early Sunday afternoon. Regardless, Warpaint's music can more than speak for itself, no matter the venue or time of day. -Ryan Lester

Warpaint [MySpace] [Official] [Twitter]