Beach House’s dreamy ambiance on their newest album ‘Once Twice Melody’ reminds listeners of the distinct sound they have crafted throughout their career, hypnotizing you into an ethereal state of mind, and tugging at loneliness.
‘Once Twice Melody’ is the group’s eighth studio album, standing as their longest at 18 songs split between four discs. The four discs represent four chapters, each telling its own story.
‘Once Twice Melody’. the first track begins with an 80s synth vibe and then unfurls into the Beach House aptitude they’re known for. It captures the essence of every classic Beach House song and puts it all into one.
‘New Romance’ gives me the same feeling I had listening to new music in 2013. It feels so inventive as if I’m listening to music for the first time again.
It sounds like what dream-pop is supposed to sound like—it scratches the brain in all the right places.
The best track on the album may be ‘Masquerade’ with its haunting, yet tranquil tone. It’s the heaviest and stands out the most. It is a delightfully spunky mix of shoegaze and goth.
Victoria Legrand, lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist, has such an immersive voice that allows the listener to drift into the gloominess of ‘Masquerade’ or the exhilaration of ‘Only You Know.’ She’s able to sound so heavenly and then at other times, so chilling.
Though it has hues of moroseness about a loved one leaving, ‘Only You Know’ maintains its endearing demeanor with its gleamy beat and mentions of a “summer’s blaze” and “tomorrow’s skies.”
It begins with waves crashing then dives straight into repetition of the words “don’t” and “wait” nailing an urgent, emotive feeling.
Their songs act as an experience, which is a brilliant artistic decision on their behalf.
‘Pink Funeral’ is also another strong song on the album with its dark fairy-tale spark. It paints a beautiful picture of romantic tragedy with “swans on a starry lake,” an allusion to Swan Lake.
This is magic in a song if it’s possible to put magic in a song, ending with transcendental, goosebump-inducing guitar.
A reoccurring theme with Beach House’s ‘Once Twice Melody’ seems to be starry-eyed nostalgia, which they continually portray so well.
There are many references to stars, skies and starry skies, tucked within the lyrics, painting a gracefully intoxicating image.
‘Modern Love Stories’ has a multitude of sounds, transforming into something softer and hazier, making it the perfect end to this album.
Beach House’s sound is so consistent, though they incorporated almost gothic styles that inch closer to alternative pop. There is never a worry of their sound completely pivoting to something else, which almost makes you wish it would at times.
Considering the length of this album, there was plenty of room to try something different. Their dreamy vibe is always pleasant to hear, but I would like to see a song or two stray from their typical scene.
Beach House’s lyricism feels almost Shakespearean at times with its grand imagery and themes of romantic tragedy. ‘Once Twice Melody’ was crafted rather than written.
This album is a blissful journey that dives deeper into the atmospheric warmth Beach House created.
9/10
