With the 2007 album Dance Party In The Balkans, Brandon Bethancourt established a sort of indie pop never quite heard of, incorporating Balkan, Middle-Eastern and sanctified electropop harmonies into a cold and paradoxically warming sound under the moniker Alaska In Winter. Taking off where we left the first, best and absolutely brilliant opening track of DPITB, The Homeless And The Hummingbirds, Holiday sees Bethancourt ditch Balkan and the Middle East in favor of an even colder and more sterile sound than ever, inspired from the city in which it was recorded: Berlin.
The homage track to the city, of the same name, is the poppiest and longest track on the album. With a steady electro pulse, Berlin catches the sombre essence of a night out, why not in said capital of both Germany and German minimal techno music, as well as AIW’s essence of sound throughout the record. The track is preceded, however by the opener (no duh), which is called We Are Blind And Riding The Merry Go Round. The continued melody of the latter half of the closing track of DPITB, Close Your Eyes - We Are Blind kicks off Holiday so that old fans will recognise the style, even if it is more controlled and electronic than ever.
Close Your Eyes, which features Zach Condon a.k.a. Beirut, arguably the man whose collaboration on DPITB and Holiday has given AIW’s most of its mentions and interested listeners, on vocals has gotten a (for the album) fitting electro remix treatment. To be honest, the only reason why it works decently well is because not much otherwise than the vocals are extracted from the original. Following that, a second part of the beautiful track Horsey Horse takes place, closing the album on an equally beautiful note.
It appears Bethancourt enjoys mixing around with his ideas a lot. Highlander is a six and a half minute piece divided into two parts spread out over two tracks. Streetgang is a similar constellation, only in 9-10 minutes and three parts featuring electro beats that are excellent examples of how excellently Holiday eschews from sounding dated while still using synth sounds that would put a label on any other album as a cheesy retrospectrum. It works so well, because the listener can tell that Bethancourt treats these sounds with utmost respect and love and that’s what makes Holiday such a great electropop album in a sometimes shoegazing electronica and sometimes shy and humble dancefloor state.
<3 Alaska In Winter <3
Alaska In Winter - Holiday (48:00) (BUY!)
Tracklist
1. We Are Blind And Riding The Merry-Go-Round (4:33)
2. Berlin (6:10)
3. Speed Boat To Heaven (5:06)
4. Highlander, Pt. 1 (3:56)
5. Highlander, Pt. 2 (3:28)
6. Knorrpromenade (4:07)
7. Streetgang, Pt. 1 (3:21)
8. Streetgang, Pt. 2 (2:52)
9. Streetgang, Pt. 3 (2:40)
10. Keep Your Boots Clean And Everything You Step On Is Dirt (3:54)
11. Close Your Eyes (Remix) (5:26)
12. Horsey Horse, Pt. 2 (3:13)
Can’t wait to see what else Bethancourt might bring up in the future, wether it is futuristic or old skool 
For a few samples of the sound of Dance Party In The Balkans and the original and first sequel to the above tracks, please see below.
BONUSES: