Crack

Beach House might be the perfect ‘make-out’ music when one happens to be confined to the bedroom, but I suggest that you skip the snogging, abandon the foreplay, hurry the main event and go see them live.

The Trinty in Bristol, famous for its past life as a church, proved the perfect setting for the bands’ fairly short UK winter tour, and added to the hauntingly dreamy tones onstage. Beach House were well backed by Lower Dens, who provided a grittier element to the atmosphere and putting the shoddy sound equipment to one side, proved an interesting addition to the blissful sounds that later ensued.

Being cited as the main act’s favorite band and contributing a darker side to this Baltimore musical movement, Lower Dens' debut album Twin-Hand Movement is worth a listen, and a look, just to see all the phallic references in the track list.

The three-album repertoire of Beach House acts as musical morphine, so it was surprising to see them play with such emotive energy. The lighting and set wasn’t quite Pink Floyd, but there should possibly have been a disclaimer warning all epileptics to ‘do one’ before the strobes were inflicted upon the crowd.

All the fan favorites such as, Norway,Zebra, Used to Be and Lover Of Mine were lovingly delivered. The quality of the songs and their unique style makes choosing a standout song hard task. Although, their romantic ballad Take Care, was executed with reassuring vibrancy, cutting through the giddy haze, and waking many out of a trance.

The tour was in support of their third album, Teen Dream, which has quite rightly received high praise from other US imports that have graced the British summer festival circuit; most notably Vampire Weekend who brought them along to tour North America.

Judging from their eerily comforting live show, this refreshing act will keep bagging the plaudits in 2011.



Words: Ben Perks

http://www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic

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