The Baltimore-bred, alternative rock, “dream pop” duo Beach House have returned this year with another impeccable project full of entrancing gems and emotionally evocative masterpieces. The musicians, now in their mid 30s, have once again proven the beautiful magic in their foolproof production formula, a formula that has been developing since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2009.

This recipe, consisting largely of dreamy organs, ethereal guitar riffs, and subtly powerful drum machines, was perfected in 2012 with Bloom. The album possessed a character that the duo had been attempting to perfect and it echoed this immaculate essence with casual brilliance, not only capturing its longtime fans but captivating new ones. With their release of Depression Cherry, Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand succeed in another attempt to add brand new elements to weathered essentials that once again entrance the soul.

On this release, the band has shifted to a much softer, dimmer sound, creating atmospheres of melody and vibrancy that almost serve as vehicles for dreaming, a striking contrast to the booming instrumentation on their last album. The song “10:37” is a perfect example of this, with its lullaby organs and arpeggiated guitar plucks weaving a dreamscape that can’t help but give the listener goosebumps, or make them fall asleep. Despite this seemingly overbearing theme of tiredness, Beach House manages to keep us interested enough to stay awake.

“Sparks”, perhaps the best track on Depression Cherry and the album’s only single, resonates a tremendous beauty, emanating an ethereality that stirs the spirit and evokes unspoken emotion. What stands out especially about this track is its originality and progressiveness in the scope of Beach House’s past albums, all the while remaining tethered to their distinctive sound. The scratchy guitar riff that sets up the background for the song pulses with a nostalgia that is indescribable, and Victoria Legrand’s vocals delicately layer it with a soft, time-worn blanket from a nonexistent childhood.

On the song “PPP”, a spoken-word introduction that sounds like a message from a familiar yet unknown figure guides the track into its beautiful harmonies, and the mystically tangible synths surge out onto the musical canvas. The chorus echoes the words “like tracing figure eights on ice in skates” in a dizzying and seamless manner, making the listener feel as if they are the ones figure skating. This angelical air that the band has pinned to their musical creations is what makes each of their releases profound, and it is what has lengthened their legacy to a point at which with every new album, new fans are created.

Perhaps the most impactful characteristic about Beach House’s music is its ability to latch onto an individual’s personal experiences, serving as a soundtrack to whatever they happen to be experiencing. With Depression Cherry, they seem to have tapped into that idea and made yet another beautiful score meant for the lives of many.