Shapeshifting

iTunes Review

After breaking with their drummer following their last album, Catherine McCandless and Stephen Ramsay move on to forge a new sound for Young Galaxy on the aptly titled Shapeshifting. Teaming up with producer Dan Lissvik, half of the Swedish duo Studio, their third release continues their dream-wave fascination while adding elements of synth pop, electronica, and dance music. The result is a lush album built around shimmering layers of sound, twinkling keyboards, slinky guitar figures, and some delightfully melodramatic production touches. McCandless and Ramsay trade lead vocals throughout, and the stark differences between their voices keeps things interesting as they sing about stars, chemical reactions, the elements, astrology, and various agents of energy and change. This vocal contrast is particularly apparent on the excellent “Peripheral Visionaries,” on which they harmonize to great effect. Elsewhere there’s dance music (“We Have Everything”), new-wave inspired pop (“Phantoms,” “B.S.E.,”), and arresting and textured tracks featuring McCandless’ rich vocals (“Blown Minded,” “For Dear Life,” “High and Goodbye”).