News Of The Universe - La Luz (2024)

ideated from: an inbox quickly filling with new releases I should pay some attention to

This is apparently a way of leader Shana Cleveland working through treatment for breast cancer and some other life-changing developments she was experiencing, but you wouldn’t know its ugly inspiration from listening to this gorgeous record. She and the band have a great knack for turning tragedy and fear into something beautiful and transcendent.

Filled throughout with fantastic vocal harmonies and throwback 60s psych tropes, we also get thoroughly modern touches too. The drums and keys are much more forward than in old psych records and it’s a great effect.

Their previous releases had been straight-up revivalist surf rock, and there’s still a little of that here. But they’ve shifted to another gear and found some amazing new textures and approaches.