Devoid of big obvious hooks BLOOMS beauty lies in the synthesised blissed-out waves of sound; twinkling guitars, dreamy keyboards and stoned-sounding lead vocals. Some critics have said that Legrand's vocals sound like Nico, though to me she sounds like the older Joni Mitchell. Though there is Nico's sense of detachment, Legrand is less austere and exudes human warmth.
BLOOM is totally relaxing and at no point does the pace and tone change to snap you out of it's mellow tranquility. Imagine hot cloudless skies, calm azure seas, the sun beating down and causing light to dapple on the surface of water. Balearic Indie. The best word I can think of to describe the album is mellifluous. A word that looks and sounds beautiful and it perfectly describes BLOOMS smooth and sweetly flowing journey.
Beach House can be easily grouped with this new wave of shoegazing inspired bands. The sound is similar to the excellent The War On Drugs, though with slowed right down and less influenced by classic Americana. They're not dissimilar to the likes of M83 and Washed Out, though certainly less electronic. Like these bands they owe a big debt to My Bloody Valentine. They employ all the same tricks MBV are credited with introducing to indie rock - pitch bending, digital reverbs, echoes and those luxurious glides from one note to the next.
It's an impressive album, but one without any real standout tracks. 'Myth' and 'Lazuli' have received airplay and have been (i think) released as singles, but BLOOM is not a 'singles' type of album. It's not a record to pick and choose from. You'll get the best from it if you immerse yourself and let it's gentle waves wash over you, from beginning to end. If you drowned in their sound it would be an exquisite way to go.
'Myth'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuvWc3ToDHg
'Lazuli'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfzFVbkutFE
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