LA WOMEN provide respite from the hustle with a night out on the town

The early 2010s delivered an incredible era for electronic indie music. Bands that had the ethos and attitude of a guitar driven sound but instead relied on synthesisers to do the heavy lifting. I'm talking about artists such as Passion Pit, MIA, and LCD Soundsystem, as well as Aotearoa locals Kids of 88 and Computers Want Me Dead. These bands represented a distinct sound. An upbeat, loose, anything goes vibe that was equally appropriate in a club, on a festival stage, or at 3am house party. It was pop by electronica with the essence of a DIY indie lifestyle.

London based, Aotearoa project LA WOMEN have recently dropped a new EP and it immediately takes me back to this time. The EP is a direct response to aspirational status culture and the hustle-based lifestyle required to get you there. LA WOMEN offer a solution to the tension of this way of living, providing a 'night on the dancefloor' to shake the stress away. To be honest, I'm not really a party guy, but I gave this EP a good listen and here are my thoughts, track by track.

Hell Of A Night

The opening song kicks off with a bang (literally not figuratively). The opening piano riff hits hard and right away I feel the pull of memories dating back to high school parties as I was growing up. It builds and carries me with it, when the hook grabs, I'm locked in for the chorus, and know right there and then... this track is fire. Saw synth leads, a fast tempo and undeniable charisma. You've gotta hear it to get it, and this song is definitely worth a spin.

Control

An unexpected development. It begins with an MGMT style riff moving to a lush chorus and onto a call and response like harmonic guitar line. It reminds me specifically of Australian alternative group Parcels. The production on this number is impeccable. Tight, intentional and smooth with a point of difference. The attention to detail is right up there with the best releases of the day, and I must admit I'm a sucker for a polished pop hit.

BYOD

The third track takes the EP in an entirely different direction. Where the first two had a real go getter energy, this one is almost a little sultry. It swoons and sways with half step melodies Robin Thicke would be proud to call his own. Again the production and textural details are immaculate. Lyrical chaos touching on nepotism, incentives and obviously... drugs. This one is right in the thick of it.

MoneyPenny

An opening epic layered with chorus heavy guitar textures sets the tone right off the bat. Synth stabs escalate the spacious verse into the climactic line 'Shoot shoot, bang bang' - it's a relationship going down hill in real time. The interlude after the second chorus is a pleasant break before the final chorus. Another slice of pop inspired mayhem.

We Want The Sun

Finally, the come down. We Want The Sun allows some room to breathe. It's roomy, gentle and considered. Peaceful, in the way a morning sunrise after a night out is. A little rough around the edges, full of feeling but resolved. It's centred around dreamy acoustic guitar chords and mellow beats. A suitable closing chapter to end out the EP.

LA WOMEN have made an EP that knows exactly what it wants to be. Across five tracks, Control moves through the havoc, excess and release of a night out, while honing in on the pressures that sit under life in the modern age. It has the energy of early 2010s electronic indie, but with enough character to keep it from feeling like a throwback. For an EP about escaping the grind, it does a pretty good job of giving you somewhere to go for 20 minutes.