The sound of an eternal sunset, that great ball of fire slowly descending behind a baron mountainous landscape at the end of a winding, empty, open road. That is how I feel about the lush, aching sound made by the band La Luz, a sound that they seemed to refine and fully realize on this, their fourth album, without smoothing out the rough edges that make this music so raw and alive. It is a sound comprised of tried and tested classic garage rock elements; there’s the chiming electric guitar patterns, electric keys picking out the primary colours within the tunes, splashes of mellotron and kaleidoscopic effects, deep primal bass and best of all, you are never far away from a dreamy, harmonious female vocal that exhales pure honey-drop soulfulness over every bar. That is not just heard in the lead singing of Shana Cleveland, it is also there in the ever-present Lena Simon and Alice Sandahl backing, they have literally wrapped their heavenly oohs and aahs all over this record. By blending these touchstones over some beautifully written, melodic songs, they have captured and bottled that elusive mid-sixties hazy vibration. Check out the echoey opening of ‘Down The Street’ for further evidence, it is ambience that is captured as much as instruments, you can almost feel the air in the room touching the strings.

The album feels so good, but it aches; listen to ‘Watching Cartoons,’ in which they sing about doing just that “in my room” and manage to make the activity sound like the heaviest, most heart wrenching activity a young adult could engage in. The guitar solo in ‘Oh Blue’ is pure Duane Eddy, echo-drenched surf guitar tastiness but the garage band looseness still underpins these moments, as here electric piano behind the solo indelicately hammers out chords. The scene is set on ‘Goodbye Ghost’ by a minor key piano progression but again there is contrast, as the bass line is agitated and driven. These irresistible ying/yang motions pave the way for the tune to burst wide open into fireworks of widescreen sonic delight. I am writing this as the album plays, hoping to grab hold of the key moments that make the self-titled ‘La Luz’ record such an essential listen, but as I am speedily trying to nail down in writing what my ears are bathing in, it occurs to me that there are not a selection of highlights here, the whole album is a heart stirring blast from beginning to end.

The ”do what you gotta do” repeated chorus line in ‘Metal Man’ prove La Luz have an ear for a good pop hook. Do not underestimate the musical chops that are still required today to actually write twelve great new songs. If it was that easy everyone would be doing it and, believe me, many are not. Here, is a fine example of the reason crate diggers and music addicts like me continue to keep our ears out for new stuff, it is because there are artists in the world still working away at their craft, refining, evolving it and creating work as wonderous and head-spinning as this. The album closes with La Luz’s first up front gear shift of the whole record. ‘Spider House’ is a fuzzy guitar led instrumental with a huge nod to ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ which, positioned as it is in the running order, does suggest that La Luz are going to be progressing further on from here. I will certainly be paying attention to whatever they do next.

Find a vinyl pressing of this album here: https://www.discogs.com/release/20656315-La-Luz-La-Luz