Washed Out: Within and Without

Label: Sub Pop

This stuff is smooth as fitted sheets. Which is good enough reason to also commend the sexy cover art, in which bedsheets are, shall we say, quite actively rumpled. Chillwave vanguardist Washed Out, a.k.a. Ernest Greene, delivers his Sub Pop debut and it's for hazy young lovers everywhere: Within and Without is a frictionless marbled palace of '80s-isms, with grand layers of synths propping up his lazily soulful vocals. "Eyes Be Closed" is like a perfect romantic moment held in place for five minutes, the synths pushing that bedroom scene higher into the clouds. "You and I" features guest vocalist Caroline Polachek (from Chairlift) and a slow, slippy beat that angles the synth melody toward yearning. "Far Away" is more upbeat, a bit of shuffle in the rhythm and a softly chiming melody that's balanced out by a brief, somber violin part. Great for lazy summer afternoons rolling around in bed or in the park, alone or with someone special.