Beach House

American indie’s next Big Thing comes with a good deal of hype; on record, their sound is so lush, polished and produced that there was the sneaking suspicion this wouldn’t translate to a decent live show. This cynical notion was, of course, proven to be wrong on hearing the stunning voice of Beach House singer Victoria Legrand. Equal parts Patti Smith, young Michael Stipe and Kristin Hersch, note-perfect vocals soared over sparkling West Coast guitar and synth organ drones. Despite the saggy mid-section of the set, there was enough beauty in the almost samey-sounding songs to lull the crowd into a happy trance.

The Haunt, 23 May 2012

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