‘The Arrangement’
Beach House
Sub Pop
As dream-pop slowly takes over the airwaves, it’s hard to find a group that doesn’t overdose on breathy, introspective poetry. But Maryland duo Beach House, though not completely avoiding the plague, does it with humility: Somewhere in their wistful vocal pastorale and softly plucked melodies, the genre’s obligatory otherworldliness becomes more existential than extraterrestrial. A heavy B-side off their upcoming Zebra EP, “The Arrangement” sets up duets like “Do you say what you mean?/ You are only sixteen” inside a warm, earthly atmosphere, proving they can lure in any sucker with an ounce of feeling — not just the lovesick indie crowd.
