Beach House is a Baltimore based dream pop
duo consisting of vocalist and organist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex
Scally. Since their self-titled debut back in 2006, Beach House has become the
go to band when referencing dream pop… a rank that is well deserved.
The highly anticipated release of their latest record Depression Cherry sees the duo make subtle stylistic
changes in terms of songwriting and production. This record is in essence a less
washed out and less atmospheric rendition
of previous releases. However, Depression Cherry offers a previously unheard elucidation
of Legrand’s vocals, adding way more texture to the listening experience; it’s
simply gorgeous.
Depression Cherry kicks off with Levitation, a progressive opener that reels you straight into a signature Beach House wall of sound. Simply reading the album title, looking at the artwork, listening to this ethereal opener (probably the most overused adjective when describing this band) makes you feel… funny. It’s hard to explain, but hearing Legrand’s almost-too-soothing vocals pan from ear to ear as she sings, “There’s a place I want to take you” really does take you to whatever place she is talking about. It’s nice, and it's definitely a cleverly placed song in the tracklist. Next up is Sparks, the lead single… the victory lap. This is the track that sounds most distant from prior Beach House efforts - Scally’s guitar screeches across the introduction, placed higher in the mix than that wide and hard-hitting organ, which sounds more like a bass synth on a dance track than anything else. However, it adds a stunning broadness to Sparks; it feels full… like it just ate a duck or some other animal that is realistic to eat entirely.
This record maintains the same level of emotion throughout its running time, it certainly evokes feelings of sentimentality that you can't escape until you reach the end. The track Space Song sounds like it came directly off Teen Dream or Bloom, particularly due to it's drum machine playing that same old rhythm from tons of other Beach House songs – but although this one is nothing new in terms of style and flair, the songwriting still instantly grabs you and leaves you hungry for the next song. It’s nothing new, but it’s something… and that 'something' is great. Among my favorites on Depression Cherry is Bluebird. Scally’s guitar tone on this one is insane. I never thought I would hear a Beach House song with an introduction like it – it almost sounds like the beginning of a hip-hop instrumental. Bluebird sees Legrand yet again stun the listener with her simply indefinable vocals; it’s one of the best female voices you can find these days.
Depression Cherry is one of those records you can lose track of time to, it’s modest… it knows its place. You can feel asleep when listening to this record... yet somehow you are aware of what's going on around you; all of Beach House's music has the ability to send you into momentary trance. On my first listen, I woke up after a sloppy Saturday night, put my headphones on, and spent the afternoon with it. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday than with Beach House. The production on this record is by far the best in their discography; it’s sharper and more inviting. Legrand’s vocals are the definite standout feature throughout – we hear her in a more intimate setting, allowing the instrumentation to flow into each ear as an accessory to her raspy yet soft tone. Listening to a Beach House record is always a comforting experience.
Words by Harry.
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