A couple of weekends ago the conversation went like this, basically…
“Is this the new Beach House album?”
“Yep”
“I thought so. It sounds just like….”
“Beach House?”
“… I was going to say all their other stuff.”
“Ha. Yeah pretty much. It’s nice though?”
“Oh yeah, I like it. I just feel as though I’ve heard it before…”
“Did I tell you Victoria Legrand gave me a back-rub at D.O.C. once?”
“Every time we talk about Beach House you tell me that.”
“It was a good back rub….”
“Shut up”
Anyway, on with the review…. While this does sound like Beach House – really, honestly what is wrong with that? After all it is a Beach House album – so they sound like, well, Beach House, not to put too fine a point on it. What did you naysayers want – Alex to throw down some post-gangster rap over Victoria’s minimalist beat-boxing? No., you don’t want that. And don’t sit there smugly saying “Actually, that’d be interesting…” wryly grinning as you imagine what that’d be like. Yes, that’s right I’m watching you. Stop it. And seriously, dude. Stop that; it’s weird, and frankly inappropriate right now.
Right so, yeah – it’s another Beach House album. It’s full of dreamy drifting in out of focus-y bits. Guitars shimmer and glisten. Songs envelope you in warmth. It’s blissful and star-twinklingly good. Yes, star-twinklingly good. I tested this. I aimed my speakers at the night sky and stars actually twinkled brighter. Obviously science with it’s “facts” and “light-years” is against me with this experiment. But whatevs; I stand by my assertions. Try it yourself – I recommend Lazuli, in particular for best results.
I like this record. It’s not ground-breaking, because Beach House already broke their ground with their previous three albums. If they hadn’t already won your heart before they probably are not going to now. If, though, you’re already a fan you’re going to love this record as you would any other Beach House album. It’s the same, except that its totally different songs. Stop wanting everything to be different every five minutes and just enjoy the stars….
- review by Andrew Tidball
