New Jersey’s Real Estate specialise in a certain brand of dreamy, floaty indie introspection that’s a dime a dozen these days. In the late 2000s, the group established themselves as upcoming proponents of chilled out indie rock (think Beach Fossils, Mac Demarco, DIIV, etc), and they continue to tread a similar path on their new studio album In Mind.
The new record, which is the group's fourth, sees the band delivering a sun-kissed sound that references 90s alt rock, along with classic rock janglers like The Byrds and The Beach Boys, and, to a lesser extent modern synth-pop. Those familiar with Flying Nun heroes like The Clean and The Chills may also find a sense of déjà vu in the dreamy pop melodies of In Mind. Herein lies both the biggest strengths and weakness of bands like Real Estate – creating lovely tunes that recall some of the most classic and revered musicians of the modern era, but failing to create their own distinct identity or do anything truly ground-breaking with their hero worship.
On hearing In Mind there is certainly no doubt that Real Estate are capable of writing great songs, no matter how reverential they sound. Opener ‘Darling’ is an uplifting and catchy scene setter, a layered and intricate pop tune recalling French pop masters Phoenix. While, the blissful ‘Two Arrows' is almost seven minutes of beautiful pop melodicism, slowly building into controlled bursts of feedback and searing guitar licks.
It’s easy to enjoy the kind of music that bands like Real Estate make, however its obvious debt to past glories keeps it surely at arm’s length from true greatness.
