No sophomore slumping for this Charm City duo, Beach House’s new full-length is more focused than their equally beguiling 2006 debut. While there are obvious influences here (Mazzy Star, Galaxie 500, Slowdive), their music is neither imitation nor homage; as Beach House rework the shoegaze aesthetic, simultaneously throwing in subtle nods to both country-folk and Motown in between, crafting each song into something fuller and distinct.

Baltimore-based chamber pop duo Beach House return to eager ears with their sophomore record Devotion for Carpark, and the result is just as flawlessly dreamlike and emotive as their first. Using the whimsical and tremolo-full "Master of None" from their self-titled debut as an auditory point of reference for their new album, Beach House's Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally create a record that plays strikingly similar to the sounds the duo made their name on. Yet there's no need for the two to stray far from a method that produces such impeccable, opulent tunes. Playing lyrically and musically on the evident theme of "devotion," each delicate track deals with love and the feelings associated with it; thus, it's a dense, moody affair here, chock full of languid organ-esque keys and lushly reverberated guitars with Legrand's delayed, luminous vocals echoing for miles throughout. The standout on the album, "Gila," exemplifies Beach House at their finest as Legrand's thick, soothing voice works rhythmically as the melody alongside Scally's clean, simple guitar and processed percussion. While there are obvious influences here -- Mazzy Star, Galaxie 500, Slowdive -- Devotion as an album is neither imitation nor homage; Beach House rework the shoegaze aesthetic, simultaneously throwing in slight nods to both country folk and Motown in between, they stand on their own, crafting and tweaking each song into something fuller and distinct. [PG] (February 27, 2008)