CD Reviews

Washed Out | Within and Without

Sub Pop (2011)

By LIZ PELLY | July 13, 2011

3.5 Stars

Two summers ago, a number of glo-fi buzz bands surfed trendy chillwaves around the blogosphere, reaching mild popularity amongst fans of subtle, retro dance beats and laid-back vibes. Although many of these were just bored bros in their bedroom who figured out how to use Reason and Tumblr, a few were actually talented, budding producers, shouting through tin cans (read: the Internet) from remote, isolated places. For Washed Out's 28-year-old Ernest Greene, that place was Peach County, Georgia, where he started recording music at his parents' 30-acre orchid. He's now onto his first full-length record, a solid contender for one of the best dance or pop albums of the year. Following two 2009 EPs, Life of Leisure (Mexican Summer) and High Times (a cassette-only release via Mirror Universe Tapes), Within and Without is chillwave 2.0. It takes the same hazy late-night bedroom synthpop, but amps it up exponentially, with live instruments (cello, bass, violins, drums), guidance from superstar producer Ben Allen (who co-produced Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion and Deerhunter's Halcyon Digest), and more meticulously crafted songs. It starts with bouncy beats; bright, soaring synth lines; and the appropriately washed-out vocal texture of single "Eyes Be Closed," followed by the equally immersive and atmospheric "Echoes." The poppier "Amor Fati" maintains the slow psych-mesh of guitar, synths, and vocals, but with a more solid structure that builds and builds. With more room for echoing synths and grandiose soundscapes, Greene has created a sound equally as suited to bedrooms and headphones as to swanky night clubs or the last hour of a buzzy rager — updating the sound of his 2009 hit "Feel It All Around" and making it timeless. Chillwave forever.

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ARTICLES BY LIZ PELLY

REVIEW: FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM | December 06, 2011
Chronicling the past 30 years of women in DIY punk, Amy Oden's documentary deconstructs the myth that punk is an ideal world free of gender prejudices.

AFTER THE OCCUPATION | November 16, 2011
From Oakland to New York, city police departments and their elected overlords are crushing lawful Occupy movements in their midst.

OUT: PARASOL AND INKY SKULLS SOUNDTRACK THE ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR KICKOFF PARTY | November 16, 2011
"This is a song to put on a mixtape for the next person you have a crush on," laughed Parasol singer/guitarist Lily Richeson last Friday night before launching into "Firecracker," a super-cute two-minute love song that balanced big distorted riffs and driving drums with doo-doo-doo's and baa-baa-baa's.

HOW MICROFUNDING IS FEEDING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY | November 14, 2011
Erika Hess showed up at Voltage Coffee & Art in Kendall Square last spring with an idea: she wanted to combine art and activism to teach people about urban gardening. But first, she needed funding.

PAPERCUT ZINE LIBRARY & THE LUCY PARSONS CENTER RE-OPEN | November 09, 2011
Zinesters perused hand-stitched books and photocopied pamphlets on topics ranging from punk politics and parenting to feminism and freeganism, while local musicians played folksy tunes on acoustic guitars, mandolins, and cello between floor-to-ceiling shelves of used books.

See all articles by: LIZ PELLY

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