Beach House - B-Sides & Rarities
(Sub Pop)

After an incredibly prolific 2015, Baltimore’s Beach House have been relatively quiet. That year we got 2 separate full-length albums, (Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars), with both succeeding on their own merits while further solidifying the band in their signature sound field which can only be called shoegaze-dream-pop. 
Since that time though, nothing. Something must be on the horizon because Beach House are clearing the decks and compiling all of their non-album tracks. As they state in their press release, they really don’t have b-sides, just songs that didn’t feel right for the album and thus didn’t make the cut. Like the kaleidoscopic, Teen Dream deleted track “The Arrangement.” Being that the album was maybe their career highlight, it’s easy to understand anything penetrating the sequence but this song has a very memorable melody with beautiful keyboard and guitar work from Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. That track, the haunting and surging “Baby” and the druggy, heavily synth weighted ballad“10 Mile Stereo” were all taken from a standout, RSD ‘10 release, the Zebra EP and are included here.  “Used To Be” is easily one of their best songs in their catalog and the included demo version, originally released in 2008 on a rare 7”, presents another side to the shimmering original. The duo utilize primitive synth and a simple click track rhythm to give the song a sense of intimacy though this version optimizes some tasteful fuzz guitar and gentle percussion. 
Other tracks included on B-Sides And Rarities: “Rain In Numbers” one of their oldest from 2005, an Itunes session “Norway”, an internet only track “I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun”, a Queen cover “Play The Game” and 2 outtakes from 2012’s Bloom. Perhaps most importantly, Beach House are including 2 completely unreleased tracks not included on their 2015 albums: “Baseball Diamond” and “Chariot.”
Seems like a very worthy companion piece to add to your Beach House collection. (Dom)
Check out a track here.