Dallas-based indie quintet Bethan makes lush, melancholic pop. The group’s sole full-length record, Time Gone By (released in 2014 and produced by longtime Midlake member McKenzie Smith), moves in swells of reverie — rich orchestration, profound piano ballads and lilting waltzes, all led by the heartening vocals of singer Jessi Hall. Though the band’s music is personal and grounded, its members also seem fully open to imagining their own dreamy musical realities, transcending anything that might sound inherently “Texan.” If anything, Bethan’s music feels like a midnight swim: surreal, tranquil and edifying, with a hint of wild impulse. Continue reading »