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Easter’s over. Oh no. In 2015, Beach House released Depression Cherry. The album opens with the nostalgic ‘Leviathon’. For me, the yearning was all about how much it reminded me of the ethereal Teen Dream five years earlier. Have a great week.
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“I had a good run playing horses in my mind/On a hillside I remember/I am loving losing life.” Victoria Garance Alixe Legrand and Alex Kristian Scally know how to create an atmosphere. Church organs, grinding guitars and cinematic synths feature large on this standout song from this year’s album release, 7. ‘Drunk in L.A.’ Have a great weekend.
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‘Space Song’ is a wonderful song on a good album. Beach House released their fifth studio album Depression Cherry in 2015. The album returned to the simple dream pop that had made their 2010 meisterwerk Teen Dream so definitive.
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Toronto-based indie pop band Alvvays released their sophomore album Antisocialites this year. The second track is ‘Dreams Tonite’ with its dreamy 1980s pop sound. Think Chromatics. Think Beach House. Think Cocteau Twins.
I am holiday proper for the next few days. So, please enjoy some reblogging of the best tracks of the last 5 or so years. Neatly following on from the last couple of posts, I start with 2010 …
In no particular order …
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Honourable mentions also go to: Broken Bells for ‘The High Road‘; Band Of Horses for ‘On My Way Back Home; MGMT for ‘Flash Delirium‘; and Laura Veirs for July Flame.
In no particular order…
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Honourable mentions also go to: Mayer Hawthorne for ‘Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’‘; Blue Roses for ‘Doubtful Comforts‘; The Black Eyed Peas for ‘Meet Me Halfway‘; Bibio for ‘Lovers’ Carvings‘; The xx for ‘Night Time‘; Local Natives for ‘Airplanes‘; Vib Gyor for ‘Red Lights‘, Bill Callahan for ‘Jim Cain‘ and Friendly Fires for ‘Skeleton Boy‘.
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I think I was still buying CDs in 2010. My sepia-toned memories of opening the understated and zebra-covered disc Teen Dream are all magical. I think it’s the third time that one of its tracks has featured on this blog and I save the best for last. Seek out the crescendos at the end of ‘Walk In The Park’, with their soft cymbals, Alex Scally’s treated guitar and Victoria Legrand dreamy vocals. The album contains their best work and, if it weren’t for a certain Kanye West release, would have been vying with Arcade Fire for the best release of 2010.
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I am drawn by tunes more than lyrics. For example, I have always thought that Grizzly Bear’s upbeat “Two Weeks” is a song about holiday: “Save up all the days/A routine malaise”. But, the first single from the band’s third album, Veckatimest, is in fact about the slow breakdown of a relationship. The song features Beach House’s Victoria Legrand on backing vocals; that should have been a clue. I’ll stick with my two weeks’ vacation. Have a great week.
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Grizzly Bear had come a long way since their debut album Yellow House was released in 2006. 2009’s Veckatimest was also a much more accessible affair. The single ‘Two Weeks’ may have taken all the plaudits, evidently helped by the backing vocals of Beach House’s Victoria Legrand, but ‘Cheerleader’ is the standout track for me. Its waltz-like groove is a great start to the week.
In no particular order …
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Honourable mentions also go to: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti for ‘Round And Round‘; Broken Bells for ‘The High Road‘; Band Of Horses for ‘On My Way Back Home; MGMT for ‘Flash Delirium‘; Foster The People ‘Pumped up Kicks‘; Villagers for ‘Becoming A Jackal‘; The Besnard Lakes for ‘Chicago Train‘; I Am Kloot for ‘Northern Skies‘; Massive Attack for ‘Paradise Circus‘; Caribou for ‘Odessa‘; Laura Veirs for ‘July Flame‘; and LCD Soundsystem for ‘I Can Change‘.
In no particular order …
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Honourable mentions also go to: Burial for ‘Ashtray Wasp‘; Bat For Lashes for ‘Laura‘; TNGHT for ‘Higher Ground‘; Field Report for ‘Taking Alcatraz‘; Lulu James for ‘Be Safe‘; Family Of The Year for ‘Hero‘; Grizzly Bear for ‘Sleeping Ute‘; San Cisco for ‘Wild Things‘; RY X & Frank Wiedemann for ‘Howling‘; Chrome Sparks for ‘Send The Pain On‘; TR13 for ‘Fly‘; Bobby Womack for ‘Please Forgive My Heart‘; Parquet Courts for ‘Master Of My Craft‘; and Grimes for ‘Oblivion‘.
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‘Myth’ is the opening track off Beach House 2012’s LP Bloom and it was used as the siren call prior to its release. It was reassuringly familiar to those that loved the previous album Teen Dream, with the the romance of Victoria Legrand’s keyboards and vocals and the distinctive sound of Alex Scally’s Stratocaster.
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Before I leave the glorious world of alt, please enter left Julia Holter. Unquestionably, like me, she enjoys the drum machinery of Beach House. Julia Holter’s ‘In the Same Room’ features on her 2012 album Ekstasis… ambient, electronic, alternative. Have a great weekend.
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This week I will revel in some of my favourite acts from the last few years. ‘Lover Of Mine’ is off Beach House’s superlative 2010 album Teen Dream. Victoria Legrand’s vocals recall the haunting sound of Stevie Nicks, all languid and lovelorn. But with the recurring circus-like yamaha organ,’Lover Of Mine’ makes for the dream poppiest track on of the album. Have a great week.
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After the retrospect of last week, something of the hipster variety to kick off this week. ‘Lady’ is the third single taken off Chromatics’ album Kill For Love, which was released out of their Portland studio earlier this year. The sound they’ve created is very current. Think synthesised M83, the mournful melody of The XX and the dreampop of Beach House – the result is otherworldly and perfectly matched by Ruth Radelet’s detached vocals. Have a good week.
