It is fair to say that UK quartet The Lazlo Device, have laid down an inescapably immersive adventure with new single Looking Glass to offer a fascinating invitation and teaser to their upcoming debut album. A majestic serenade of sultry melodies and elegant charm bound in an evocative ambience, the song glides through ears and into the imagination. It is in a way aurally erotic such its suggestiveness yet equally has a rousing prowess of energy and subtle crescendos to seduce the body’s instincts and leave a quickly keen appetite lustfully greedy by its close.
The band is a quartet from London which formed towards the rear of 2010. Drawing on inspirations from the likes of Mogwai, Wild Beasts, Grizzly Bear, Stateless, Four Tet, The Beta Band, and Elbow, the foursome of bassist/vocalist Dan Murdoch, guitarists/keyboardists Mark Litobarski and Ross Saunders, and drummer Leo Fenn soon began earning a growing reputation for “their unique blend of delicate soundscapes, thumping riffs and epic climaxes.” It is a quality openly evident in their latest single, it impressively building upon the invention and success which fuelled the band’s 2014 released trio of EPs, Unlucky 13, Gunslinger, and Lazlodia (Tokyo High St EP).
Taken from impending full-length Duelism, the swiftly seductive Looking Glass first caresses ears with a sombre yet welcoming bass. Within a few breaths more keys and guitar strings within floating harmonies lay poetic fingers upon the senses and imagination, they orchestrated by the engaging vocal charm of Murdoch. The song’s atmosphere is warm whilst its scenery is a mellow yet flirtatious festivity involving jazzy textures and evocative melodies amongst many more spices which simply romances ears.
There is an underlying catchiness to the proposition too, one lurking in the magnetic rhythms and the swing of the vocals. It is an infectiousness which builds to controlled but anthemic expulsions that only reinforce the track’s grip on the listener before allowing them to fall back into the seductive arms of the Muse scented encounter. A smooch on the senses, Looking Glass is further enhanced by the irresistible flames of guest and alto saxophonist Dennis McDonagh, they another hue to a lingering treat which by its end has incited the beginning of impatience for the album ahead.
There is/was a Japanese band called Tokyo Chaos City which created a similar alchemy of emotion flooded ambiences around fiercely provocative textures and sonic experiences, they the only real references we can offer to the uniqueness of The Lazlo Device sound. Expectations are that Duelism will follow-up and push on the beauty and invention of Looking Glass whilst The Lazlo Device will go on to be a potent part of the rock landscape at home and most likely further afield.
Looking Glass is out now @ https://thelazlodevice.bandcamp.com/ with Duelism to be released 11th March with its launch show on March 12th at the Camden Barfly.
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Pete RingMaster 17/02/2016
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
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