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Washed Out - Within And Without - Sub Pop

For Ernest Greene it’s all about atmosphere. His artistry as a singer and songwriter takes a backseat for his ambition as a composer and a mood setter. Greene is the latest artist to emerge out of an increasing popular ‘chill-wave’ scene. As of just two years ago he was producing home-made music out of a bedroom in his parents’ house in Atlanta, GA. But those EP’s found an audience and Greene now finds himself as a hot commodity. Using the stage name Washed Out, Greene was courted and signed by Sub Pop records to release his full-length debut Within And Without.

Don’t be fooled, Washed Out doesn’t come with the immediacy of a Coldplay record or the lyrical prowess of a Leonard Cohen album but the landscape created within his music is breathtaking. The strength of Within And Without is totally captured in the mood of the music he creates. Greene finds a tremendous balance between his electronic and pop sensibilities so that these songs are impossible to pigeonhole in any specific genre or place. You’ll find songs like “Eyes Be Close” and “Amor Fati” to be most flavorful moments on the album and easily the most accessible.

Whether it’s a day at the pool, a few hours at a cocktail party or a long drive, Within And Without may be your perfect companion. For as much as these songs may make you want to dance, they’ll make you want to think. Songs like “Before” or “Soft” are beautifully layered and woven together. And they both have a pulse. Within And Without is as refreshing an album as we’ve come across this summer.

Buy Within & Without, XPN's Featured Album of the Week from Amazon.com. Your purchase that starts here, benefits WXPN.