La Luz - 'Strange World'
La Luz return with a polished new sound on transfixing single ‘Strange World’.
The first single of the newly announced album News of the Universe, the group’s first record under the Sub Pop label, “Strange World” delves listeners into an unfamiliar yet highly convincing change of pace from their usual psych-influenced sound.
Led by guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland, La Luz have grown a large number of listeners over the years since their formation in 2012, exploring a sound which takes a lot of inspiration from folk and psychedelic rock of the 1970’s.
With their newest single, the sound seems to take on the following decade of music, where electronic instruments became an irreplaceable part of popular western music.
The first section takes us on a familiar journey through an arcane distorted guitar riff backed by some intense tom-drum patterns, only to burst into a sea of organ-like bliss and lively arpeggiated respite.
Cleveland’s lyrics derive from her experience with anxiety, repeating to herself in the chorus: “We’ll be fine, just take your time, whichever way you go”. The topic was inspired by the advice Cleveland received from a friend after going through an overwhelming stage in life, suffering a series of panic attacks. The chorus serves as a mantra to herself.
La Luz will be touring Europe in less than two months, just after the release of their latest record on the 24th of May. They will be performing at the consistently riveting Wide Awake Festival in London, along with some dates in Manchester, Edinburgh, Brighton and Bristol.
Words by Jay Cohen
