Young Galaxy sound neither youthful nor galactic, but the five-piece Vancouver dream-pop act do offer an enjoyable Beach House-gone-electronica brand of Canadian indie. On Ultramarine, the band's fourth LP, Catherine McCandless and friends seem confident, determined, and very much at home with the strengths and limits of their stylistic ethos.
Though parts of Ultramarine are fairly mid-tempo, the sensual shuffle of "Fever" and the 80s dance anthem enchantment of "What We Want" securely place the album in the indie-pop category. Even when the overdone retro groove of "Out the Gate Backwards" nearly undercuts McCandless's compelling vocals, the band still remains addictive and intriguing. Ultramarine may lack the variation and sweetness of a Stars album or the genuine innovation found in the work of Grimes or Björk, but it does have drive, zest, and joy that other similarly situated, more decidedly arty, acts often downplay.
Ultramarine begins with the steady, pounding assurance of "Pretty Boy" and ends with the borderline cheesiness of "Sleepwalk With Me." Although the record's arc is imperfect and its lyrics over-simple, the songs themselves are frequently delightful. Ultramarine is a solid release with enough likable tunes to forgive its flaws.
Grade: B
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