Proving they’re not just another indie rock band, Lala Lala blend post punk with dream pop influences to create a perfectly balanced album.
The Lamb was written as a way for singer-songwriter Lillie West to deal with past mistakes, loss, and her struggles with addiction. Complex feelings translate into tonal shifts in the music, ranging from bleak to euphoric. It never gets too dark though – the weary drawl of West’s vocals are countered with light-filled vocal harmonies.
There is a steadiness that carries the listener through the album. Amid the shifting shades of emotion, it’s comforting. Nothing is rushed or overdone. Yet despite their simplicity, these songs feel big: they fill up space with carefully constructed layers of fuzzy guitar, vibrant synth and ethereal backing vocals – all given a hefty slather of reverb.
From the chaotic anger of the opening track, ‘Destroyer’, to the dreamy, bittersweet closing track ‘See You at Home’, the album cleverly makes use of a variety of musical elements to create different moods and textures. There are loud, shouty moments, surprising silences, memorable choruses, and sweet instrumental outros.
This album should take Lala Lala from Chicago’s basement scene to stages worldwide. Let’s hope Melbourne is one of them.
8/10
