In the four years since LAL released their self-titled LP, the Toronto duo haven't as much reinvented their sound as reinvigorated it. Paring down to a duo (while losing member Ian de Sousa), LAL pick up on the political themes touched upon on 2008's terrific Deportation, but Find Safety looks deeper into modern social politics, shifting their focus to queer and BIPOC issues.
Although the duo of Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray describe their fifth full-length as "compellingly danceable," Find Safety comes off more downtempo than dance floor, as tracks like "Tiny Mirrors," "Stand in My Way" and "Rubbish" keep the RPMs low but likable, while Kazi's vocals generously channel '90s trip-hop and acid house. Although LAL seem focused on electronic sounds throughout the album's nine tracks, Murray keeps things sounding organic and song-oriented, utilizing a wide array of instrumentation and musical moods to help craft a piece of work that matches the duo's profound poetic content.
Although Find Safety presents a new sonic direction for LAL, it seemingly comes off as a throwback for the duo, representing a time when the music was fresh, undiscovered and purposeful.
(Coax)Although the duo of Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray describe their fifth full-length as "compellingly danceable," Find Safety comes off more downtempo than dance floor, as tracks like "Tiny Mirrors," "Stand in My Way" and "Rubbish" keep the RPMs low but likable, while Kazi's vocals generously channel '90s trip-hop and acid house. Although LAL seem focused on electronic sounds throughout the album's nine tracks, Murray keeps things sounding organic and song-oriented, utilizing a wide array of instrumentation and musical moods to help craft a piece of work that matches the duo's profound poetic content.
Although Find Safety presents a new sonic direction for LAL, it seemingly comes off as a throwback for the duo, representing a time when the music was fresh, undiscovered and purposeful.