Rating: 10 / 10
A North Carolina outfit who sound right at home in England in the early to mid ‘80s, Lauds make the sort of dreamy, punky, shoegazey pop that’s drenched in reverb, is sonically introspective and dark in a noisy sort of way.
“Parallel” opens the listen with a dream-gaze meets post-punk spirit that’s melodic, ethereal and even slightly jangly like your favorites from way back when, and “Somehow” follows with swirling guitars and a lush climate that would sound right at home on a mixed tape with The Smith and New Order.
At the midpoint, “Don’t Mind” offers scrappy musicianship with hazy singing and plenty of warm atmosphere, while “Rust” flows with a dream-pop prettiness that’s got a brooding tone.
Further yet, “Distant Images” is a swift and buzzing display of alt-rock fuzziness that comes with a surf rock solo, and “Misplace A Night” exits with an echoey intimacy and emotive outpouring.
Lauds is made up of Gavin Campbell, Boyce S. Evans, J Holt Evans III, James McKay Glasgow, and Ross Page, which are probably names you don’t know. If you do, however, know the names Robert Smith, Johnny Marr, Siouxie Sioux or Andy Bell, well, Imitation Life just might be your new favorite record.
