Beach House

Indie rock has plenty of bands specializing in moody, low-key music heavy on dark, delicate atmospheres, but you'd never know it from listening to the debut from Baltimore duo Beach House. That's because instrumentalist Alex Scally and vocalist Victoria Legrand deliver a sound that is wholly fresh and enchanting, even when its references (Nico, Mazzy Star, Cat Power) are apparent. Throughout BEACH HOUSE, swelling organ, lightly brushed drums, and a constellation of processed guitar sounds build a sonic galaxy through which float Legrand's hushed, lovely vocals--creating an effect that is wistful and charming.