Washed Out 'Within And Without'

With chillwave already in the rear-view, the micro-genre’s first generation has begun branching out. Toro Y Moi and Memory Tapes both graduated from home electronics to full instrumentation on their recent second albums, and now Georgia bedroom recorder Ernest Greene has cut his first album as Washed Out in a proper studio. In the two years since his pair of zeitgeist-tapping EPs, Greene has made his Australian debut and signed to Sub Pop in the States. He has also, as Within and Without proves, expanded the depth of his tranquil soft-rock/R&B fusion.

Working with bassist/percussionist Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Deerhunter), who also produced and mixed, Greene still turns to soggy grooves, soft-focus synthesisers, surround-sound ambience, and low-key dance signifiers. He may have stepped out of the proverbial bedroom, but the album’s sleeve design is centred on rumpled sheets and unclothed bodies. The album is dedicated to his wife, and the songs combine the come-hither summons of modern R&B, with the dreamy hues of downbeat electronic music. These ballads encourage not just chilling out, but reaching out to the person beside you in a slow, loving embrace.

Greene’s compositions remain lush and lovely, at times nearing the melancholy grandeur of Pet Sounds and certain film scores. But there’s still the question of substance, as so much drowsy meandering and gauzy layers can threaten to waft away like vapour. There are definite highlights here, from the New Age-made-hip ‘Before’ to the cello-draped ‘Far Away’ to the sultry whisper of Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek on ‘You and I’. And between the distorted vocals and twinging melodies, ‘Amor Fati’ sounds oddly Strokes-esque until its clapping beats and ethereal plunks summon Underworld instead. While the proper album closes with the ultra-serene ‘A Dedication’, the bonus tracks ‘Olivia’ and ‘Call It Off’ then flirt with dance music.

It’s music to lose yourself in. For some that will mean it’s limited to background music, while for others it’s more like total immersion. Greene makes better use of space and textures than ever before, but all the tracks can still blend into a milky, nondescript whole. He’s got the sounds down –- he just needs stronger songs.

Doug Wallen

Source: The Vine