I don’t think anyone was doubting it, but Beach House’s leftovers are, somehow, better than most folks’ first choices. After putting out their magnum opus “Once Twice Melody” last year, they couldn’t let 2023 ride through without placing some kind of imprint on it. Hence the release of “Become”, a collection of five outtakes from the “Once Twice Melody” sessions. They don’t arrive like demos, though, as Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally are just as moving, captivating and cosmic as ever. EP centerpiece “Holiday House” goes toe-to-toe with 95% of “Once Twice Melody“, while “Black Magic” is some of the best guitar-focused dream pop Beach House have ever made.
Of course, the duo doesn’t reinvent the wheel with “Become”. To be a Beach House appreciator is to understand that they are firmly in their own lane and are dominating the road ahead. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a cliché for a reason, yet Legrand and Scally always seem to make it feel gorgeously fresh.
The Fat Angel Sings 