New Music: Purple Noon by Washed Out

Ernest Greene–aka Washed Out–returns to Sub Pop with his fourth studio album Purple Noon. Since his breakthrough 2009 chillwave anthem “Feel It All Around,” Greene has explored various genres–lo-fi, psychedelia, hip hop–to expand his signature hazy synthpop with each successive release. Now, the chillwave pioneer is adding moody ’80s-influenced pop to Washed Out’s repertoire.

Inspired by the coastlines of the Mediterranean and named after the 1960 film by René Clément, Purple Noon is a sensual and emotional exploration of love and heartbreak. Sonically, the album is characterized by glossy soundscapes, Balearic dance beats, and Sade-esque vocals. Sparks fly on uplifting opener “Too Late,” which tells the story of a chance meeting between two strangers. As uncertainty creeps in on “Face Up,” passion and heartache take over on standout tracks “Time to Walk Away” and “Paralyzed.” The gauzy, stripped down “Game of Chance” is a change of pace for the record, featuring Greene’s layered vocals carried by an acoustic guitar and gorgeous ocean-like synths. Album closer “Haunt” slowly builds and evokes the inescapable memories of a lost love.

Energetic and vulnerable, Purple Noon is Washed Out’s most cohesive and focused effort yet. While the album suffers from sounding repetitive, it still shines as an example of Greene’s growth as a songwriter and ability to push his sound to new heights.