REVIEW: La Sera – La Sera

When I bought this album, I was actually about to watch La Sera, the side project of Vivian Girl’s “Kickball Katy” Goodman, perform live, not least because I actually bought it off her. It was a solid show, I was incredibly hyped to hear the album too, impressed that I got it a whole two weeks before release, looking forward to something that I hoped would be as good as her live set.

With the opening “Beating Heart”, the album establishes a morose tone, with ethereal vocals and the self-prescribed tag of “morbid dream pop” seems never more fitting. There’s also songs like “I Promise You” that fit this mantra, with a lyrical determination to get her lover back coupled with a laid-back, depressing backdrop of music that implies that maybe that determination is ebbing, going away.

However, the album does have it’s moments of an upbeat, charming nature, “Never Come Around” for example, the first single off of the album, seems to strike similarity to girl-group pop but with a distinct, fuzzed out edge to it. “Left This World” also has this weirdly positive nature despite maintaining those morose vibes. It’s surprisingly delightful, throughout the album and although Goodman might be mourning lost loves, in a certainly bizarre musical tone, it’s consistently enjoyable.

The highlight of the album has to be “Devil’s Heart Grows Gold”, what seems to be a total summary of the tracks that surround it, with a prominent, distinct intro and Goodman’s forever lovely vocals, singing “You’re not gonna rest ’till you find the best,” betray the overriding fascination with relationships and love present on the album. It’s dreamy as fuck.

The only weakness the album displays is that as some of the tracks are so short and occasionally quite same-y, the album seems to drift by in a heartbeat. Listening to the tracks individually, they are strong, but as a whole, the album flows so well, it’s over before you know. Goodman has definitely got the right track-listing, but if you’re not paying enough attention you’ll be back at “Beating Heart” before you know it. It’s an otherwise lovely collection of dreamy girl pop, with morbid overtones, solid and consistent in this side project’s debut album.

Buy the album now from Rough Trade. Stream “Devil’s Heart Grows Gold” and a live rendition of album track “Hold” below.

“Devils Heart Grows Gold”
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“Hold” – Live @ Room 205 [via]
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