Wye Oak – Tween

Once upon a time, “album Tween by Wye Oak” could have been some indie-folk/pop about summer days. But the Baltimore duo have grown from their early 2008 folk days of debut If Children (QRO review) into the dreamy synths of their last release, 2014’s Shriek (QRO review). And “Tween” seemingly refers not to the years between childhood and adolescence, but rather to songs that didn’t make Shriek or the preceding Civilian (QRO review), which have been reworked and repurposed for effects on this more-than-a-b-sides-collection.

Washed, airy sounds open Tween with “Out of Nowhere”, and this is a washed, airy record. But it is also more than that, just as it is more than an outtakes bonus release, as Wye Oak has put in effects for effect. “If You Should See” is beautiful in a Beach House (QRO live review) way, while “Better (For Esther)” is particularly well-done air – kind of the space between the clouds and the ground, substance along its breeze. There are also darker distortions (“No Dreaming”), distant echoes (“Trigger Finger”), and even some of that old folk beauty – but still with light, high effects (“Watching the Waiting”).

Dropped on the world rather suddenly (which seems to be all the rage, or at least was a year or two ago), Tween could have just been some redos of old content. But instead it a record that works on its own, and showcases the Wye Oak of today.