SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: L.A.B. – L.A.B. VI

L.A.B.
L.A.B. VI
EASY STAR RECORDS

New Zealand’s L.A.B. has returned with its sixth album. L.A.B. VI follows 2021’s L.A.B V marking the longest gap between records as the band had previously released their first five albums within five years.

L.A.B. VI opens with the slow burning “Give Me That Feeling”, a song driven by a mid-tempo pulse, and soft instrumentation ranging from a muted electric guitar, a crisp acoustic, a gentle organ, and lush vocal harmonies. The lead vocals are warm with inviting melodies that are catchy and sure to leave you swaying. While it may seem a strange choice for a band to open the record with, “Give Me That Feeling” highlights a strong level of songwriting that demonstrates a detailed level of focus and conviction in their performance and tasteful restraint that allows for the song to unfold organically. “Casanova” follows contrastingly with an up-tempo reggae bop that follows a simple structure but makes up for it in its energy.

Throughout the course of its 11 songs, L.A.B. VI  is without a moment of weakness. Despite this, however, there are some clear highlights in addition to the opening song that stand apart from the collection. The first is “Ocean Demon” a track introduced by a lone flute and an array of swelling horns before erupting into a half-time reggae shuffle that’s darker in tone and energy with a vibrant soundscape accented by horns, backing vocals, and percussion. “Follow” is an excellent example of what modern pop music could sound like with the use of a full band while “Mr Rave Rider” is reminiscent of classic ‘70s reggae. Lastly, “Take It Away” is a groove-heavy banger that follows a killer guitar riff that is highly nostalgic for the work of John Frusciante and is complimented by steady drums and an intricate bass line.

To call L.A.B. a reggae band feels like a drastic oversimplification to their sound and songwriting. While very much rooted in the genre, there are strong elements of pop, rock, blues, and funk within their performance, making their sound incredibly nuanced and incredibly unique to them. L.A.B VI demonstrates this through and through while also making for the band’s most cohesive and ambitious record to date. It would seem that taking the additional two years to deliver this record has resulted in a greater full album listening experience that has impressively exceeded the high benchmark of their previous work.

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