Arachnophonia: Beach House “Teen Dream”

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Eve (class of 2020) and features Beach House’s 2010 album Teen Dream. Thanks, Eve!

Beach House

Teen Dream

Beach House - Teen Dream

I’ve been really into the band Beach House lately, so I was excited to see that we have their 2010 album Teen Dream in our catalog!

Beach House is a dream pop duo originating in Baltimore, Maryland, that I first listened to when visiting my twin brother in Los Angeles, California. Their music is beautiful, intense, evocative and emotional, perfect for a late-night drive or particularly cinematic moment. Lead singer Victoria Legrand has an incredible voice, and the lyrics of songs like “Used to be” and “Space Song” are haunting and melancholic, speaking to existential struggle and the human condition. At the same time, Legrand’s dreamy vocals, sweeping keyboard tones and swirling organs and guitars keep a lightness to Beach House’s sound, creating a beautiful contrast between song feeling and form.

Beach House - Adam Scally and Victoria Legrand

My favorite song on Teen Dream is “Take Care”, a track in which Legrand speaks to her younger self with compassion, promising guidance and gentle care. “Take Care” embodies thew ability of Beach House’s music to be simultaneously moving and comforting, providing listeners with nostalgia but continued familiarity. I’m excited to check out tracks on the Teen Dream album that I don’t know as well, like “Walk in the Park” and “Silver Soul”, and see where Beach House’s inspiration takes me next.

Beach House - Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally

Spider Sounds: Purity Ring “Another Eternity”

Editor’s note: “Spider Sounds” invites members of the University of Richmond community to share their thoughts about CDs (or other items in the Parsons Music Library’s collection). The links included will take you to the library catalog record for the item in question, or to additional relevant information. Today’s post is by Liza, one of Parsons Music Library‘s student workers and features an album by the Canadian electronic music duo Purity Ring. Thanks, Liza!

Purity Ring

Another Eternity

Purity Ring - "Another Eternity"

If you haven’t heard of Purity Ring, you’re missing out! As a fairly new addition to the Parsons Music Library, Purity Ring combines their own genre of “future pop” with electronic indie in their newest album Another Eternity (2015). The Canadian duo Megan James and Corin Roddick recorded and produced the album themselves, showing off a sharper focus on James’ vocals and Roddick’s evocative percussive skills than in their first album Shrines (2012).

Purity Ring’s songs deliver dream-like melodies intertwined in electronic landscapes as heard in “Bodyache” and “Begin Again.” The duo continues to give rise to prevailing styles in indie music through their resonance of intensive trap beats and smooth, atmospheric lyrics.

If you missed Purity Ring on September 20, 2015 at The National in Richmond, then come to the Music Library to check out their CDs Another Eternity and Shrines!

Purity Ring - "Shrines"