Album Review: Beach House’s ‘Bloom’

By: Samuel Abrahms
Ames247 Staff Writer

The dream-pop duo that goes by Beach House is composed of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. If this is the first time you’re hearing about Beach House, fear not, for Bloom is a great introductory album for new listeners to  familiarize yourself with them. 

With their elite composition style, Beach House has a tendency to surpass expectations when it comes to their production ambition and songwriting ability. With Bloom, it is clear that their once muddy production has clearly become crisper and more directed — a good sign from the group that has been together since 2004.

Since their early stages, Beach House has slathered their dream-pop songs in a filmy nostalgia. With an innocent wisdom, Legrand sings of aching memories, vacant feelings inside her and past troubles.

With driving synths, heavy drum machines and bouncing keyboards, each track is effortlessly paired and layered with wondrous vocals. “New Years” is one of the more pace-driven tracks on the album, while piano keys lazily prance around on the sadder, “Troublemaker.” The atmospheric short buildups at the beginning of every song are delightful as well.

“On The Sea,” a hopping piano-ballad, is a great example. Legrand lures, “Would you rather go unwilling/the heart is full and now its spilling.” Visibly, Bloom’s lyrical content is anything but topical. “Wild,” a magnetically hypnotic tale, resonates deeply over haunting echoes as Legrand beckons,

“Wild in our ways
What we are making
Heartless to say
You go, go on pretending”

Legrand’s vocals insulate and wrap each individual note in an impressive momentary warmth. Each song is well crafted and personal. There isn’t one track that stands out from the rest.

The album as a whole is an unforgettable collection of medicinal songs that are undeniably real. No fluff. No gimmicks. With Bloom’s committed attention to beauty and mood being unquestionable, it is clear they have created another sound crowds of listeners will surely crave for years to come.