Teen Dream [2LP/1DVD] in Bloomington, MN

There wasn't much room for
Beach House
to improve on
Devotion
, so they improved the room in which they made
Teen Dream
. Recorded in a converted church with producer/engineer
Chris Coady
-- who has also worked with
TV on the Radio
and
Blonde Redhead
--
Victoria Legrand
Alex Scally
's
Sub Pop
debut echoes with a dark lushness that's more like a beach mansion than a mere house. The slightly squalid sound quality of
had a cloistered charm, as if the band had to record those albums not just on the cheap, but in secret. On
, however, the hugeness previously implied in
Legrand
's lyrics and luscious vocals is made real, like tuning in
at their full frequency. The duo's mix of retro electronics and chiming guitars is still as dreamlike and distinctive as ever; if anything, the tinny taps and hisses of their drum machine are even more present in
's pristine settings, making the contrast between them and the molten slide guitars and rippling keyboards on "Norway" even more vivid.
's songwriting is also more focused, with
highlights such as "You Came to Me" and "Heart of Chambers" serving as templates for the album's elegant longing. As
's title implies,
Scally
are wry and wise enough to know better about idealizing love, and romantic enough to still believe in it. "Zebra" positively swoons, while "Walk in the Park," with its graceful coda and chorus lament "In a matter of time/it will slip from my mind/In and out of my life/you would slip from my mind," makes losing sound beautiful, even if it's anything but a walk in the park. Despite the wintry sorrow that dominates songs like "Used to Be" and "Better Times,"
lets a little hope into the album with "10 Mile Stereo" and "Real Love." Beautiful and heartfelt,
reaffirms that
are among the best purveyors of languidly lovelorn songs since
Mazzy Star
. ~ Heather Phares