Within and Without

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Within and Without is Washed Out's debut album for Sub Pop and the first chance a wide audience will have to hear Ernest Greene’s brand of dreamy, drowsy synth pop. Washed Out’s early singles and EPs had a slightly ramshackle sound built on cheap-sounding synths and Greene's pleading (and buried-in-reverb) vocals; this LP has a much more shimmery and sleek sound with banks of fresh synthesizers and drum machines that sound like they were borrowed from an early-'90s electronic group (like Ultramarine, for example). The way Greene layers the synths is skillfully done and his low-in-the-mix vocals have a tender and yearning quality. There is a place in the world of music for albums that successfully fill the space in your life when you want to hear something nice and don’t want to be overly engaged or challenged. Within and Without will satisfy your needs in that regard, and only those looking for memorable songs or fresh sounds will feel let down.