Beach House for spring break

By Erin Szrankowski
Collegian Editor
February 27, 2008

All around, Beach House is a very luxurious pop outlet. The brilliance of Victoria Legrand (vocals/organ) and Alex Scally (guitar/keyboard) lies behind the atmospheric sound they conjure up. Devotion, their sophomore release, is a good example of modern dream pop. This second time around, one can also hear a hint of folk and country.

The group’s 2006 self-titled release was a hit with the blogosphere, especially with Pitchfork. Beach House is more of a strictly straight-forward pop album, whereas, Devotion has added pizzazz (bells, chimes and other minor percussion instruments).

Devotion is a good soundtrack to this up-and-coming spring season. The album is lively, fresh and warm as well. It is also good for when the sun is setting and you’re all looking to get all cozy with a significant other. Anyway you listen to it, Devotion is good for a peaceful relaxation. The flow of the album can easily trick one into thinking the entire album is only a 44-minute long song. A listener feels engulfed in the recording; it captures one and reveals the vastness of the sound. It is a quiet beauty that speaks for itself.

It takes you on a long wistful journey, the sound is your guide, the vocals your destination. It weaves in and out of each tune, visiting a place never touched by the human ear. Tales of love, desire and even devotion provide the path. In this journey, one encounters the ever-so-fragile “You Came to Me,” one of the first tracks on the album. Through hushed “las,” Legrand’s demure and deep voice billows. Because this moment is extremely genuine, her vocals almost become introspective.

The next stop is the catchy single “Gila.” It is a near five-minute track which slightly resembles material from Beach House’s self-titled. Scally’s guitar work corresponds nicely with Legrand’s vocals. They do not out-play each other, which is humble in a way. The focus of the album is meant to be placed on the vocals creating a fantastic harmony.

“Turtle Island” is an echo-y gem, with textured vocals that add to the subtle intensity of the song. Toward the end of the album is the very phonetic “D.A.R.L.I.N.G.” One would think this is the dream pop version of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” The ending track, and the end of our journey, is the sleepy “Home Again,” which slowly takes us back into reality.

Beach House’s Devotion is a dreamy gem. Collectively, Legrand and Scally do everything right with their latest release. It is hard not to listen to this soundtrack of an album.

szrankowskie1@lasalle.edu