Dream pop is a very tricky genre. On one end of the spectrum you have bands like Beach House, with their emphasis on creating heavenly atmospheres over straightforward pop songs. And then on the other side you have a band like Wild Nothing; who use their dreaminess to cover their pop songs in a sea of synths and re verb-laden guitars.
This is the band's sophomore release; but unlike so many sophomore outings, this one actually improves the band's overall sound and is a stronger product then the debut.
And with songs like the opener "Shadow" with it's bouncy melody and soft, Billy Corgan Esq crooning, establishes the mood for the rest of the album, and is a superb song as well.
The title track is another standout, presenting a more dreamy sound and is just as rich with melody as the opener. In fact, every song here contains a strong sense of melody. And while songs like "Through the Grass" and "This Chain Won't Break" don't exactly have the greatest hooks; you'll still find yourself humming the melodies for days.
Other highlights include "Only Heather" "Rheya" and "Paradise". The former being my personal favorite; it combines all of the band's best elements into one 3 minute slice of perfection.
Overall, this is a very strong album. Sure, it's not the most original album on the planet; but it's a darn good one and is well worth checking out.
7.8/ 10
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