Sound judgement

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

DREAMLAND GLASS ANIMALS

THE latest showing from electronic indie four-piece Glass Animals is a psychedelic trip down memory lane.

Dreamland is the band’s third studio album and combines their distinctive electro-pop sound with influences ranging from the Beach Boys to Timbaland.

Big electronic drum beats feature throughout the album but a whimsical, nostalgic vibe creeps in through lighter synths and twanging guitar on the title track Dreamland, and Melon And The Coconut. As well as being rammed with enormous tunes, the wistful, throwback lyrics make Dreamland an apt and strong contender for one of the major sounds of an unconventional summer.

MADE OF RAIN THE PSYCHEDLIC FURS

THE first album from The Psychedelic Furs in 29 years, proves the new wave darlings haven’t lost their edge.

In recent years the group have reformed on a semi-regular basis to play live dates. But they said they had begun to “feel like a jukebox” and set about writing new material to bolster their sets.

Made Of Rain recaptures some of the heady glamour of their early albums, and a fair dose of their swagger.

It is also a markedly darker affair. Pounding drums, soaring synths and brooding vocals are all present, but most importantly, the songs are excellent.

PURPLE NOON WASHED OUT

A DECADE on from the heyday of the microgenre known as chillwave, Atlanta’s Ernest Greene returns with his fourth album as Washed Out.

Opening track Too Late sounds instantly familiar, mid-tempo, muffled vocals conveying a vague sense of unease and regret, 1980s’ drums, washes of synths.

Chillwave always tends to be described as summertime music, hazy and shimmering, and, listening during a heatwave, Purple Noon ticks all those boxes. But too many of the tracks struggle to hold the attention, with Greene’s 10-year journey from scratchy lo-fi to polished textures inspired by Sade and Phil Collins ending in a bland cul-de-sac.