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Beach House: Quiet, cozy, soothing

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Also by Lee Crickman:

Beach House: Quiet, cozy, soothing (February 26, 2008)

by Lee Crickman

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Just holding the new Beach House album Devotion in your hands evokes feelings of intimate warmth and eerie isolation; it’s the perfect complement to the winter blues. The band’s sophomore release, Devotion, is full of the soothing, haunting melodies we were given a taste of on their first record, Beach House. Now, Beach House has filled out their dream pop sound and grown up, expanding and building upon everything good about their freshman release.

Comprised of Alex Scully and Victoria Legrand, Beach House uses lo-fi recording equipment to create their raw, yet muted sound. These create a quality that renders listeners unable to count the tracks as they listen; each song flows seamlessly into the next, creating a relaxing and calm album perfect for a cozy night in.

Beginning the album on an upbeat note, “Wedding Bell” practically undulates in a gentle waving motion. One of the technically more complicated songs, this track features the classic Beach House sound, now filled out with a hazy guitar and harpsichord. “D.A.R.L.I.N.G.,” on the other hand, incorporates bells paired with ethereal vocals, giving it a 1970s radio-hit vibe, making it hard to believe you aren’t listening to the album on vinyl.

Beach House also often uses interesting means of percussion, giving the impression of rain or sand. This is found in the beginnings of “Some Things Last a Long Time” and “Wedding Bell.” Their innovative instrumentation makes listeners feel like they are inside the comforts of their homes, with a rainstorm just beyond the walls.

The lyrics are also consistently beautiful, favoring soft words and sounds, but they occasionally fall to the side of too precious. On “You Came to Me,” the wistful images of flora and fauna seem too delicate with lyrics like “Invite your sister/ Into the garden/ … Fistful of wildflowers/ Handpicked by someone/ Who nearly fell.” Legrand’s velvety voice, however, never wavers. She manages to seldomly vary its color, aiding the album’s dreamlike and continuous quality, while her Nico-esque tones manage to stir up faraway places leaving you feeling haunted yet calm.

Simple, yet complete, the themes of love sickness perfectly match the music on Devotion, giving listeners the feeling of being temporarily enveloped in candlelight. Each track can hold its own, but “Wedding Bell,” “Turtle Island” and “Gila” shine the brightest.

Beach House has grown up since its debut album — Devotion succeeds in everything it sets out to do. Best for quiet and melancholy moods, Devotion will keep listeners in a pensive and dreamy state of perpetually hushed winter calm.

4 stars out of 5

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