Neon Musical Insight

By the first week of 2009, the best album of the year – Animal Collective’s triumphant Merriweather Post Pavilion – had made its presence felt. In 2010, artists are seriously slacking. I mean, it took nearly three weeks of the new year for a very strong contender in this year’s race of “Best of’s…” to drop! (Even if it did leak nearly two months ago.) C’mon!

There’s a reason why Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear had spent endless days ranting about Beach House’s lead singer Victoria Legrand’s brilliance, and just exactly how fascinating Teen Dream is, and believe me, IT IS. Gone are the Mazzy Star tinges; in are the sound scapes of a much more upright, confident, and tight duo at the height of their musical abilities. Victoria Legrand and her soulful aptitude ponder on the album opener, “Zebra”: “Don’t I know you, better than the rest?” Before she answers her retort, “all deception, all deception” over two-note interplays on guitar, that lead to a dismally uplifting chorus, exuberant and rich with cymbal crashes.

“Silver Soul” is the band sounding more relaxed, while once again, the confidence of Legrand’s delivery paves the way, sounding as convincing as a young Gloria Gaynor. The song builds into a twinkling chant-a-long closing chorus, with Legrand repeating herself “It is happening again” and Alex Scally’s whispering echoed chants acting as a backdrop in between each measure. What Beach House do so well is create a subdued ambience via droning synths, vocal harmonies, and sliding, single note riffs, with “Silver Soul” acting as a perfect example to such claims.

“Silver Soul’s” droning keys spill over into the next track — and first single from the album — “Norway”, before bursting to life through ethereal strings, that drip of reverb. The droning keys proceed, but sway and hypnotize in a much more approachable manner. The chorus is quite possibly the most beautifully lush section of anything on the entire album, and the most interesting part of it all is that Legrand only manages to sing: “Norwayyy ay ay ay”, with the dually syllable-named country beyond sufficing.

…And that’s only three songs in. Teen Dream never dulls out, or ever comes close to losing its momentum. “Used to Be” is built around a jingle on keys, with Legrand vocally following each note shift similar to the very familiar approach of Julian Casablancas, while “Lover of Mine’s” chugging organs and pixyish bedazzle of synths sound like a time shift, circa mid-1970’s.

It’s hard to see space for improvement with something as spellbinding and sure of itself as Teen Dream is, which may be a little daunting for the band on their follow-up, but something’s whispering in the back of my ear that they have it covered. It may be an over lapse of Legrand’s haunting harmonies… or it might simply be me escaping euphoria, crashing back down into the murky depths of reality. Either way, I’m content.

**** . / ***** 4.5 out of 5