Lae: Break the Clasp

Lae, also known as Lae-Tseu, is making a comeback after nearly fifteen years of silence. Once a popular post-rock band full of promise, the band is now trying to bring their sound to a new audience and, perhaps, capture some of the old guard. There's always something welcome and yet terrifying about such returns. After all, the new music could be awful, a mere excuse to hit the road again and to relive a storied past. The road beckons and there are bills to pay.

Fortunately, I don't think Lae is simply trying to get their hands on the elusive gold ring of the past. Instead, the band is thinking through their intension to cut against the grain of established trends and to see how its sound plays in late 2014. Though I never listened to Lae back when, I can nevertheless say that this is a strong new release and that the band's sound seems fresh. I was especially fascinated with the lyrics on this release. Many of them develop themes of melancholy, insight, and exploration. I know those are vague categories, but those are the rough moods that stood out to me.

If I have one complaint about this album, it's that the music occasionally seems too deliberate in its pacing and ideas. There are also some pretty great beats coming from the drum kit that last only for a short time. Let's hear some more of that syncopation and groove.

Ultimately, this is a welcome new release from a band with not only a strong past but a promising future. Check out "New Moon" and "To Give You the Stars Above."

Track Listing:
1. Sexy Sadie
2. Break the Clasp
3. To Give You the Stars Above
4. Broken Knee
5. Reunion
6. New Moon
7. Sister
8. Spare Me Logic
9. Let Me Die in the Memory of Her Arms
10. Geisha
11. 17 Queen
12. Cold Dark Drive
13. Space Travel

Added: January 2nd 2015
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2195
Language: english

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