8/10

While Beach House have always been known for creating some of the most relaxing and forward-thinking music of the new millennium, it seems that they are looking to stretch that premise even further on their latest full-length release. The band's fifth studio album 'Depression Cherry' has been dubbed as being a "return to simplicity" with fewer instrumentation throughout. Although that is how you would describe it on paper, it is not the full picture of this release.

While it does clearly have a more stripped-back approach to production, it is hardly a quiet album as each track has these long, winding tones running through them, creating an audible soundscape that sets the mood of this new record. Its echoed and reverbed sound has given the music a far bolder and more anthemic vibe than we usually hear from them, and overall makes for a much bigger sounding release.

It certainly ticks all the boxes of what a Beach House album should be, but has this real sense of progression within their core style. It gives the impression that this is more of a new beginning for what the band stand for, and its impressive to say the least.