Album Review: Washed Out – Paracosm
Ernest Greene, aka Washed Out, has come a long way since his days of being an unemployed librarian. Two full years since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, Within and Without, Paracosm presents to us a more focused and accomplished sound. His vision of a conceptual album is a lot clearer and concise, moving away from the confines of a bedroom studio and the reliance of synths to creating less introspective, more natural sounds that include over fifty new different instruments. Someone’s been a busy boy.
It is evident from the aptly titled opening track ‘Entrance’ that we are being welcomed into a new, ethereal world. Birds are chirping, chimes are chiming, harps are, you know harping. Fairytale cliche vibes all round, but the charm is undeniable. Leading straight into ‘It All Feels Right’, the first song to be released off the album; the euphoric melody and washed out (forgive me) vocals of Greene give the track such simplicity, despite layer upon layer of different instruments. It’s an example of a perfectly crafted song. ‘Don’t Give Up’ boasts an incredibly catchy chorus, with the repetition of hopeless, romantic, lingering words, “Even though that we’re far apart, we’ve come so close and it feels so right, don’t give up.” ‘Weightless’ is reminiscent of Greene’s earlier work, with synthesizers used to give the track such great depth that you may find yourself floating above your thoughts, whilst ‘All I Know’ (possible favourite alert) with it’s building guitar riff is the kind of song that cannot fail to make you feel ecstatically happy about being alive.
Although we have come to expect summer weather to never last in England for more than a week at a time, in Paracosm, our own world of eternal sunshine, long nights and yearlong tans has been created. Ernest Greene has produced 45 minutes of pure escapism to worlds and memories that don’t yet exist, but which we long for nevertheless. These songs will be our summer soundtrack, our winter saviour, and consequently, whatever weather may face us.
Seriously, who said librarians weren’t chilled?
– Clare Povey
