Beach House - “Once Twice Melody”
This is the 8th album by Baltimore-based dream pop duo Beach House. Together, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally have been releasing highly praised material since the mid-2000’s. Records like "Teen Dream" (2010) and "Bloom" (2012) are considered modern classics. With a consistently dreamy and colorful sound, Beach House manages to please longtime fans while also keeping things fresh. With psychedelic influences and an 80’s-inspired new wave approach, "Once Twice Melody" does exactly this. On an almost 1,5 hour-lasting record, we hear the band shifting between these two directions. The arpeggiated and bright synths on "Masquerade" and "Over and Over" create the retro feel of the 80’s, while the phaser and reverb effects on "Through Me" and "Hurts To Love" embody that psychedelic sound. Along with Victoria Legrand’s hazy vocals and the recurring string sections, it’s quite a magical journey. The metaphorical lyrics help paint this colorful, euphoric, but also tragic picture. With the album being built out of 4 separate EP’s, returning to one of these EP’s every once in a while may do the material more justice. Because listing through "Once Twice Melody" in one go, makes some tracks feel similar or less memorable. Still, Beach House maintain their status as Dream Pop pioneers with this well-crafted and ambitious project.
Best track: “Pink Funeral”
Rating: 7,5
Released: February 18, 2022
Bella Union
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Black Country, New Road - “Ants From Up There”
The British band releases their second album. Last year, Black Country, New Road brought us their highly anticipated debut record. An interesting and artsy blend of abstract post-punk, building post-rock and some exotic Klezmer music. With "Ants From Up There", the band’s sound has become more cohesive and distinctive. The post-rock influences are still there, but the band also incorporates elements of baroque music and jazz, which leaves a bigger spotlight for the violin, saxophone and piano. It results in a colorful, theatrical and emotional sound. Compared to the band’s debut, most songs contain a more structured verse-chorus approach, leaving room for more accessible moments. Still, all songs take captivating and adventurous turns, keeping it far from generic. And of course, there are singer Isaac Wood’s one of a kind vocals and lyrics. His poetic wordplay takes you into his troubled mind, plagued by anxiety, heartbreak and melancholia. With beautifully crafted metaphors like the retired Concorde airplane resembling a failed one-sided relationship. It’s all brought in his low and shaky vocal delivery. Unfortunately, it has taken its toll on Wood’s involvement with the band, as he left the Black Country, New Road to get better. However, with well-crafted arrangements, luscious instrumentation and honest songwriting, "Ants From Up There" sees Wood leaving on an artic high.
Best track: “The Place Where He Inserted the Blade”
Rating: 9
Released: February 4, 2022
Ninja Tune
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