Beach House – 7

Dream-pop masters move beyond their signature sound, but only by a whisker

When they followed up their 2010 masterpiece Teen Dream with an album that sounded virtually the same, we stated that for all we care Beach House could keep on making the same record forever if it was that good. They did, sort of, and it wasn’t good enough.

Beach House slightly tweaked the sound that they invented with every new release, but with scores of bands following their template, it was really too much of a good thing. So here they are now, with their most different sounding record. Which, in Beach House’s world, means it’s still pretty much the same.

Basically, this collection of songs sees them upping the tempos, raising the noise, hitting the drums harder. In Other words, they sound even closer to the Cocteau Twins, and to us that can never be a bad thing. One thing is missing, however: Victoria Legrand’s commanding voice, which many found hard to believe wasn’t a man’s, is lower and tamer. Her purring and cooing floats amidst the other instruments rather than dominating the show.

Still, you can always count on Beach House for an excellent collection of music, so yeah: may they keep on doing it forever!

Highlights: “Lemon Glow”, “Dive”, “Pay No Mind”