Drenched in dreamy synthesisers and melancholia, Baltimore duo Beach House’s 'Once Twice Melody' is a double album in four chapters.
With the first part released back in November 2021 and the last in February 2022, Beach House broke apart their album, perhaps to give time to reflect on each quarter. Though this was certainly the case, this experience of the album is temporary, and when treated as a heavy double album, the lines between the chapters blur.
The majority of the album is a reverb-heavy soundscape, a mixture of arpeggiated synthesisers, ambient samples, and sequenced drums, with some electric guitar and other percussion mixed in.
Lead vocalist Victoria Legrand is in fine form throughout, evoking the same feelings of nostalgia and longing Beach House’s music always has, with some occasional deviations. ‘Pink Funeral’ is more on the upbeat side, whilst the likes of ‘ESP’ and ‘Sunset’ are more standard Beach House, with subdued, vaguely romantic song writing wrapped in a melancholic haze.
Though undoubtedly a beautiful set of tracks, Once Twice Melody suffers from its length – almost eighty-five minutes is hefty for a listen in one sitting – and the occasional clashes in instrumentation and vocals, with sequenced drums and synthesisers taking away from the warmth of Legrand’s voice.
7/10
Words: Jack Oxford
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