ARTIST:
LESANDS


ALBUM:
SWEET SKIN


KEY TRACKS:
GLOWING
SWEET SKIN
RESTLESS LOVER


"baby you're glowing"




Last week I reviewed an 80's album...this week  feel like I'm doing the same.  LESANDS is everything the 80's were, but in a perfectly packaged 2011 EP.  I have to say, for 5 tracks, this EP is an immensely satisfying listen.

Originating in San Diego, LESANDS is the brainchild of Austin Tirado and has been pumping out heavy synth-laden beats for only a few months.  That's right, months.  This band is a little over one year old but they sound like they've been doing this awhile now.  Most listeners would classify this newly christened project a product of the new chill wave generation.  I beg to differ.  Although sometimes sounding similarly to Ernest Greene of Washed Out, LESANDS have branded a music that it all their own.  This isn't exactly music I'd want to chill to...but not  really dance to either.  Instead is walks a delicate line between the two.  It just simply is.  


Pretenders is the album's opener and relies heavily on 80's beats but then a synthesizer is added to the mix creating a uniquely modern sound.  Okay, Tirado's vocals are a bit chill wave here with all the long and drawn out notes.  But there's sustenance and emotionality here that you won't hear from Ernest Green - at least not in my opinion.Tirado's vocals stand out from the instrumentals, rather than blending in as an additional layer of music.   


Restless Lover is reminiscent of Bear in Heavens Lovesick Teenagers with it's bouncing back beats.  Yet, there is a hopefulness here, most evident in the chorus, that is very uplifting.  Tirado's high notes here are quite lovely.  Sweet Skin and Glowing are another tracks that showcase Austin Tirado's dynamic vocal range. 


Anyways, what's most exciting to see here is the duality that's present here.  The combination of dance pop and chill wave.  It will be interesting to see what direction LESANDS takes...if they even take one at all.  But things are very very new here so anything is possible!  Also what's exciting about new bands is that their music is FREE!  You can download LESANDS entire debut album here for free.  Take a listen and see what you think.

LISTEN:  GLOWING  |  SWEET SKIN  |  RESTLESS LOVER

NEXT WEEK:  WILD FLAG |  WILD FLAG