- It’s been a long time between drinks for New Jersey's jangley sweethearts Real Estate, their forthcoming full-length In Mind being their first offering since 2014. Having carved a reputation somewhere between slacker, lo-fi and retro indie Real Estate’s, fifth studio album presents more of the same cascading guitars and velvety vocals they’re known and loved for, but they’ve buffed out the fuzz, leaving a decidedly polished finished product.

How satisfying it feels for the five piece to return with lead single Darling, a sparkling little ditty that sees principle songwriter Martin Courtney use that distinctive croon to paint a picture of youthful impatience, restlessness waiting for a lover to return home. Well, we’ve been waiting too, Courtney. 

In 2015 the band navigated the departure of founding member and lead guitarist Matt Mondanile, who left to focus full time on solo venture Ducktails. This shake up had the potential to jeopardise the delicate, signature, guitar-heavy sound the quintet had spent years forging. However, the seamless recruitment of Julian Lynch, Mondanile’s replacement is especially evident on White Light, which could be mistaken for a track with Mondanile’s fingerprints all over it. A summer interlude with quintessential, sun drenched, glittering guitar runs, it breaks the languid meander of previous cut Two Arrows, delivering a dreamy nod toward previous release, and breakout LP, Atlas.

The last track Saturday works in perfect harmony with opener Darling to book-end a truly stunning record. Opening wayfaring keys drift, building and expanding to an upbeat pop number. Percussive and intricate, Saturday’s instrumentals cheerily mask the dark lyrical themes of helplessness and detachment.

Meticulously constructed, down to the purposeful track order In Mind is arguably Real Estate’s best release to date. The tracks flow freely, melding into each other effortlessly to incite nostalgia for an endless summer in the not so distant past. The three years of anticipation the boys have left us simmering in was worth it, but don’t make us wait three more, please.

- Fiona Priddey.