3. Beach HouseTeen Dream
Beach House are one of the best bands around right now. Victoria Legrand’s voice has all the character of someone great like Nico but her voice is actually vaster and more beautifully skilled. It’s better than Nico – and I’m not knocking Nico. Alex Scally’s guitar is a subtle, refined style that I’m going to compare to Joey Santiago and the Pixies or John Fahey. It’s where someone takes a not necessarily very complex finger picking pattern but has such an interesting melodic approach that what they hold back becomes so powerful. It’s minimal but there is so much information in it. The ideas on this record are so crystalized. They’re both so smart and so talented yet laid back, that they let you feel like it’s a laid back relaxed and chill concise statement but there’s actually so much intellect and nuance in the performance that it’s flawless. The opening song ‘Zebra’ is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. It’s on another level. I always wanted to hear Victoria sing ‘A Whole New World’ from my Aladdin film, I think she’d do it really well.
