La Luz – ‘News of the Universe’ album review: A cosmic confrontation of death
THE SKINNY: On the fifth album from La Luz, songwriter Shana Cleveland contends with abrupt and brutal life changes through sunlit metaphors and soft psychedelia. She turns the world-shattering experience of a cancer diagnosis into poignant observations about the inevitability and universality of decay, approaching the impossible with poise.
Largely leaving their surf noir stylings behind, News of the Universe sees La Luz taking a new sonic direction, pushing tender, truthful vocals to the forefront of their sound. Remnants of their psychedelic influences forge a backdrop for Cleveland’s open lyrics and gentle delivery, blanketing and bolstering her statements in droning keys and intimate twangs.
As soft, 1960s psychedelia comes in and out of focus around her, Cleveland takes comfort in the news and the truths of the universe. She’s constantly reaching for the sun, for the bright, beautiful flowers at her feet that will be subject to decay just like the rest of us, for reminders that we are all born and we all die. While this unflinching approach could have produced something angry or nihilistic, Cleveland tackles endings with hope and understanding.
Perhaps it helps that the record was produced by a team made up entirely of women, a rare feat in an industry dominated by men. The safeness of that environment – the vulnerability it breeds both sonically and emotionally – spills into every second of the album. It’s cosmic and cosy all at once.
It feels as if the entire meaning of life itself may well be contained in News of the Universe, in Cleveland’s declarations of love in the face of loss, in the comparisons she draws between humanity and nature, into each moment of realisation and acceptance. There are moments of bitterness, of confusion and frustration with our strange world, but Cleveland always returns to calmness and to connection. News of the Universe is La Luz’s best work yet.
For fans of: Trish Keenan, tenderness and being awed by a sycamore.
A concluding comment from Carl Sagan: “In the immensity of the universe and endlessness of time, it’s important that we reconcile the gifts we are given amid the decay, like being around to hear News of the Universe by La Luz.”
News of the Universe track by track:
Release date: 24th May | Label: Sub Pop | Producer: Maryam Qudos
‘Reaching Up to the Sun’: Eerie and enchanting vocalisations veer in and out of focus on ‘Reaching Up to the Sun’, each grasping at the rays of their namesake before finding them in harmony with one another. [3/5]
‘Strange World’: The strange world of News of the Universe comes into full view on the album’s second track, and it looks a whole lot like our own. Bubbling psychedelia underscores the repeated affirmation of, “We’ll be fine,” delivered with Trish Keenan-esque tenderness. [4/5]
‘Dandelions’: La Luz’s psychedelia begins to bloom on ‘Dandelions’, on which Cleveland compares the titular flower to life itself. “Little suns of the meadow, how they’ll soon be turning into moons,” she sings, finding beauty and comfort in their decay. [4/5]
‘Poppies’: While ‘Dandelions’ verges on bright and hopeful, the darkness and destruction of a cancer diagnosis creeps further into ‘Poppies’, though Cleveland still maintains a focus on the sun and the soil. [4/5]
‘Good Luck With Your Secret’: Nowhere is the influence of Broadcast clearer than when droning keys and floaty vocals converge on ‘Good Luck With Your Secret’. Between off-white blinds, Cleveland peeps into the secrecy and mystery inhabited by others, wishing them good luck before returning to vulnerability. [4/5]
‘Always in Love’: A stripped-back opening reintroduces us to openness and unflinching sincerity. As the evening comes, Cleveland’s lover asks her for her thoughts. “I am always in love with you,” she shrugs, “It’s true.” A stunningly simplistic distillation of enduring love in the face of loss. Even now, the songwriter is still reaching for the sun and the moon. [4/5]
‘Close Your Eyes’: A neo-psychedelic groove returns for ‘Close Your Eyes’, another motif that keeps cropping up on News of the Universe. Cleveland’s vocals take a back seat at this point, allowing for the bliss of swirling keys and lackadaisical “la-la”s to take the weight off. [3/5]
‘I’ll Go With You’: Cleveland returns to sonic devotion on ‘I’ll Go With You’, reaching for her lover as she reaches for daylight, promising the subject of her lyrics that she will follow them anywhere. Twinkles and twangs lazily underscore her promises, making their extremity feel casual. [4/5]
‘Blue Moth Cloud Shadow’: Warping synths and echoing percussion beckon us into the shadow of the blue moth Cleveland observes from her window. “When you leave here I know that I’m gonna cry,” she sings before the track veers into harsh guitar twangs, as if mirroring the suddenness of even little losses. [3.5/5]
‘News of the Universe’: The titular track is well worthy of its name. Thunderous percussion and raspy guitars give way to meditations on the setting sun. Nature guides Cleveland’s open-hearted wonderings once more, a feeling that remains even into a foreboding outro of keys and xylophone. [4.5/5]
‘Moon in Reverse’: Just over two minutes of increasingly familiar twangs and comfy lo-fi production. ‘Moon in Reverse’ is yet another blissful breather, a moment of reflection and acceptance. [4/5]
‘Blue Jay’: Forgoing sprawling 1960s psychedelic soundscapes and observations from the skies, Cleveland grounds us in earthly acceptance on closer, ‘Blue Jay’. An acoustic guitar and a subtle stomp accompany her as she details loss of control to a blue jay. “I’ll be with you,” she affirms with absolute certainty. [4.5/5]
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.