S/T (Woodsist)

Forget about crouching in front of your SAD-be-gone light box this winter: try boosting serotonin levels with a copy of Real Estate’s debut. The lo-fi poppers will have you looking on the bright side in no time at all with their sun-toasted melodies.

Nothing conjures up nostalgia for lazy days by the surf faster than the hazy soundscape of opener “Atlantic City”. With its delicate tambourine and soothing vocals, the Middle East–accented “Green River” only adds to the desert island–bound mood, as does the subdued “Black Lake”, which swirls with woozy psychedelic textures.

Real Estate’s DIY stoner aesthetic makes for a low-key affair, so if you have a busy afternoon in front of you, best to lay off the jams until you have time to melt into the couch and zone out (you’ll probably need a full week). That said, this long-player is not without pep, although the most boisterous track, “Snow Days”, is hardly house-party material. But if you’re more of a pot-brownies potlucker, tracks like the tropicalia-country hybrid “Let’s Rock the Beach” are all you need to cut loose.

A remedy for the winter blahs, the uplifting album should come with the following instructions: throw on disc, turn up radiator, slather on the neon zinc, and enjoy your summer retreat eight months early.