{"product_id":"allah-las-lahs","title":"Allah Las - LAHS","description":"\u003cp\u003e“A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for” the saying goes. But suppose the proverbial harbor is Los Angeles — a place not particularly known for being the origin of adventures. From the Spanish Conquistadors to the countless starry-eyed nobodies hoping to make it big, LA is usually the destination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo it’s no wonder the \u003cstrong\u003eAllah Las \u003c\/strong\u003ebecame fascinated with both the carefree spirit and glitter-in-the-gutter lifestyle of their hometown. After three records mining its lore and lure (from the desert to the sea) they have become global ambassadors of not just a place but a location.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving taken their compact California on the road across the world (making stops in North, Central, and South America, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Russia, East Asia and beyond), they couldn’t help but peek through the other end of the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn their fourth LP, drummer \u003cstrong\u003eMatt Correia\u003c\/strong\u003e, bassist \u003cstrong\u003eSpencer Dunham\u003c\/strong\u003e, and guitarists \u003cstrong\u003eMiles Michaud\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ePedrum Siadatian\u003c\/strong\u003e turn their collective gaze outward and toward the horizon. Simply titled \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLAHS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (a reference to a common misspelling of the band’s name), their forthcoming release on Mexican Summer finds the band turning in their most cohesive and ambitious work yet. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAllah Las\u003c\/strong\u003e seem to be transmitting from a place not found on any map. Those familiar with the band’s work will recognize their skillful melding of melodies and moods, but through that lens we see them venturing into new, exciting territories. Indeed, their growth not just as songwriters, but as performers, arrangers, and producers — is clearly audible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorreia\u003c\/strong\u003e croons in Portuguese on “Prazer Em Te Conhecer” (Nice to Meet You), which evokes \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Harrison\u003c\/strong\u003e while also sounding like a rare 45 from a Brazilian flea market. The breezy sweetness of “Pleasure” could pass for a song by Spanish folk darlings \u003cstrong\u003ePicnic\u003c\/strong\u003e, were it not for the wistful wisdom in \u003cstrong\u003eDunham’s\u003c\/strong\u003e delivery. “Polar Onion” takes us through the inevitable lows one encounters on a long journey, as \u003cstrong\u003eMichaud\u003c\/strong\u003e laments \u003cem\u003e“drown in the sea, I fill my cup - but it’s not enough”\u003c\/em\u003e- a caricature of the lonesome cowboy seeking and occasionally glimpsing enlightenment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most notable evolutions from their previous work is a razor-sharp focus on the groove. We hear the rhythms of Krautrock influencing songs like “Houston” and “Electricity,” with steady and precise drumming that create complexity from repetition. Whilst both “Roco Ono” and “Star” incorporate elements of disco and soul into \u003cstrong\u003eAllah Las\u003c\/strong\u003e universe, highlighting an airtight rhythm section unafraid to tap their toes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpener “Holding Pattern” conveys what the title suggests; you’ve almost arrived, you can see the ground, but you’re not quite there yet. Airy, ethereal harmonies chant the title, holding you in suspense- and eventually give way to an entirely different mood just before the fade- as if telling the listener “we’ve landed safely.” The persistent shuffle of “In The Air” drives the song forward, while \u003cstrong\u003eSiadatian’s\u003c\/strong\u003e echo slapped voice bounces along on top, describing \u003cem\u003e“images that can’t compare to the real thing in the air.\u003c\/em\u003e” Electric guitar and mellotron trade licks, mirror each other's kinetic ascending and descending lines and calling to mind the playful jubilance of \u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e in his prime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“We’ve been traveling a lot the past couple years and I think that played a role in influencing the broader variety of songs on this record” \u003cstrong\u003eCorreia\u003c\/strong\u003e explains. And this is precisely what sets \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLAHS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e apart from its predecessors -- a record inspired less by time, but by place. “\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLAHS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e to me feels like a soundtrack to the past 5 years or so. A sort of audio postcard to anyone who wants to listen.” This sentiment is echoed in the album’s artwork — a collection of exotic postcards, postmarked from equally exotic locals (designed by \u003cstrong\u003eMatt Correia \u0026amp; Robbie Simon\u003c\/strong\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTracking was done mostly by the band at their own studio in Los Angeles, allowing them more time and space to experiment with tunes and tones. Producer\/Engineer \u003cstrong\u003eJarvis Taveniere\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Woods)\u003c\/em\u003e was brought in to help polish it off, resulting in a sound both crisp and clear while keeping with the warmth and atmosphere the band are known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAllah Las\u003c\/strong\u003e have left the harbor. The infectious wanderlust that fuels these thirteen songs continues to propel the group forward across new frontiers, as they collect and catalog all they find and return with plenty of inspiration in tow. With \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLAHS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e we not only discover what souvenirs they’ve brought back for us; they’re inviting us aboard and taking us along for the ride.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e~Frank Maston, June 2019\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvailable on indies-only orange vinyl and:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDinked Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExclusive opaque mint green vinyl\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘LAHS’ perforated 6 x postcard set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHand numbered LP\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLimited to 400\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload card\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"South Records Ltd","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":64322455273849,"sku":null,"price":11.89,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dinked LP","offer_id":64322455306617,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0973\/1463\/6153\/files\/allah-las-lahs-south-records-ltd_725c1836-588b-40bc-b3cd-1eb984a4f265.jpg?v=1787901702","url":"https:\/\/vinyl-relic.com\/products\/allah-las-lahs","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}