I feel winded just typing out the name of this band, so from here on out I’m going to call them L^9. Like the band’s name, their music is deceptively whimsical but is, in fact, quite challenging.
Last feels like a blissed out, fuzzed out, triumphant breakup album. These guys are labelmates with frog, a band that has creeped up on me since I first posted about them. Both bands are steeped in ’90s shoegaze, folk influence, and a sharp, early aughts sensibility. The album opens with a chaotic crash of guitar chords and glides seamlessly into sunwashed power pop. My favorite song is “Dandelions,” a subdued track where the vocals are so low, you can barely hear the lyrics. What matters most are the emotions — sorrow, sadness, regret — that permeate the song past the words. Last is a trip to be sure, but it’s a journey worth taking.
Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love — Facebook, Bandcamp