Beneath the Flowers: Beach House

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BEACH HOUSE, A WISFUL POP DUO FROM BALTIMORE, wraps up a monthlong tour in D.C. this weekend. The traveling twosome--guitarist Alex Scally and singer/keyboardist Victoria Legrand -- have a sound that sparkles with warmth and charm that will surely belie the Rock and Roll Hotel's edgy environment when they check in Friday.

The duo is promoting their sophomore release, "Devotion," released recently on local indie imprint Carpark Records. Legrand's arresting vocals are its key feature, and the group's use of vintage keyboards and shaken percussion lends an air of yesteryear to the proceedings in a way that's surprisingly unpretentious, if not unintended.

The couple's penchant for lush instrumentation and lazy melodies draws the listener in. For young artists, their sound is surprisingly mature. But "Devotion" has a dreamlike quality about it that blurs distinctions.

Rippling with reverb, album opener "Wedding Bell" begins with bubbly rhythms that settle into a skip. The song's easy swing effortlessly induces Legrand's stream-of-conscious sing-along: "You're ringing the only wedding bell/And we're swimming the seas we know so/Well I tried to stay alive/In our bed/In our heads/Oh, but your wish is my command."

Carefree and bittersweet, the music is uplifting but retains the band's low-lit mood.
"Heart of Chambers" and "Gila" is Beach House at their best. Gems hidden deep within "Devotion," the songs reveal Legrand to be a true soul singer. Slide guitar and droning organ elevate her vocals, guiding it through the mix.

Beach House's music alludes to another time and place as well as inner space. Let go and they'll take you there.

» Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE; with Stamen & Pistils and Papercuts, Fri., 8:30 p.m., $10; 202-388-ROCK.

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Flyntz