More about: Beach House

Beach House, consisting of vocalist Victoria LeGrand and guitarist Alex Scally (both multi-instrumentalists) formed out of Baltimore's indie scene in 2004, with their self-titled debut album released two years later. From their charmingly lo-fi indie folk origins, the duo’s sound has developed and refined over the course of subsequent albums, with consistently captivating releases skyrocketing the band as the perfect by-word for “dream-pop”.

Once Twice Melody, their eighth studio album, their first double, and first produced entirely by the band, contains an initially daunting 18 tracks worth of music spanning 85 minutes. Each batch of four to five songs have been released conceptually in four chapters over recent months, allowing fans to absorb the music over a longer period than might normally be afforded to an album release. Familiar Beach House sounds of bubbling synths, emergent guitar sounds and drum machines are joined on tracks by live drums from previous collaborator James Barone, and for the first time a string ensemble arranged by David Campbell.

It’s a bold-sounding release, a delightful ‘80s production sheen glistening atop many of the songs. Strapping in for a full length play through, the opening title track sets out an agenda of a wide-screen road trip soundtrack. ‘Superstar’ is enthused with punch and purpose, ricocheting electronic drums and arpeggiated synths duel magnificently through ‘Runaway’. The chugging ‘Over and Over’ tops seven minutes of bouncing synth bass and cascading harmonies while ‘Hurts To Love’ flaunts Euro-pop influences with abandon.

There are more delicate moments with ‘Sunset’, a mostly acoustic composition of guitar and strings all wrapped up in endless reverb, ‘Many Nights’ and ‘ESP’ gently teasing all sorts of feelings out. The closing ‘Modern Love Stories’ unexpectedly shifts through the gears from hard-edged symphonic pop to a dense and increasingly ominous string section, to an almost jolly, prog-Bond instrumental coda. 

Once Twice Melody is a grand statement from Beach House that sits together as an extended album, while also offering more bite-sized memorable moments to take away, no doubt leaving plenty to discover on each return.

Once Twice Melody arrives 18 February via Bella Union.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Beach House