Beach House

French-born vocalist and organist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally met amidst the buzz of Baltimore’s indie rock community in 2004. The pair soon formed Beach House and began crafting their combinations of drone-like organ sounds, electronic drums, tremolo-induced guitar, and soaring, dreamy vocals. Beach House issued their debut single “Apple Orchard” in August 2006, earning a feature from reputable music critic Pitchfork. The band’s self-titled full-length arrived in October that year, receiving critical acclaim from a host of sources and making a number of year-end best-of lists.

The duo’s sophomore album “Devotion”, issued by Carpark Records, was released in February 2008. Led by the single “Gila”, the album once again generated a stream of positive reviews, and charted at No. 195 on the Billboard 200. Following the release and subsequent worldwide tour, Beach House recorded a version of Queen’s “Play the Game” in aid of the Red Hot Organisation’s “Dark Was The Night” compilation. Legrand went on to provide backing vocals on fellow indie-rockers Grizzly Bear’s hit single “Two Weeks”, before contributing the song “Slow Life” to the “Twilight: New Moon” soundtrack.

Often dubbed as their breakthrough album, the band’s third full-length “Teen Dream” took the indie blogosphere by storm upon release. The record represents a sound honed in on, crafted, and long considered, melancholic melodies floating alongside half-speed percussion and clean guitars notes. Produced by the esteemed Chris Coady, the album exposed Beach House to a huge audience, aided by the singles “Zebra”, “Used to Be” and “Take Care”.

Ahead of their fourth studio album the duo released the single “Myth” on their new label Sub Pop Records in March 2012. A second single “Lazuli” followed in April, before the full-length “Bloom” was issued in May. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, a remarkable feat for an independent band, and was greeted with critical acclaim. Without divagating too far away from their ethereal sway, the record builds upon their earlier releases, adding weight and an experimental edge to their distinguished and polished sound.