In 1999 post-rock outfit Lorelei split, spinning off into two forward thinking projects. Bass player Stephen Gardner formed Chessie, hailed by the editors of the Washington Post and the New York Times as one of the best new artists of 2001. Guitarist Matthew Dingee assembled LU, releasing a self-titled CD on Trevor HollAnd's pulCec label (a subsidiary of Darla) the same year, which was also met with enthusiasm. Both men continue to race for the prize, expanding on the work they started in Lorelei, with Chessie recording for Plug Research and LU for Dingee's Textilesounds imprint. The two groups share a use of traditional rock instrumentation blended with a palette of sampled or synthesized drums and an array of keyboards to produce electronic compositions that combine the tonality and textures of modern dance music with the warm comfort of independent pop music.
LU are as likely to reference Steve Reich (on "Amateurs Talk Strategy") as they are early '80s New York label 99 Records (on "Cartoon Mouse Tail"). The group have found a niche between avant garde exploration and post-punk firepower. Still eschewing lyrics in favor of intricate guitar and keyboard melodies, "Share the load", their second full length release, transpires in movements. The first three tracks could each be singles in their own right. In fact, "A La Casa" was culled for Teenbeat Records' 2004 sampler. The next three tracks slow the tempo and darken the mood with dub influenced reverbs and negative space. Then it's a return to a bump and grind mix of metronomic rhythms and angular guitar suggesting a perforated future threatening to tear itself apart. On the whole, "Share the load" is more contemplative and exploratory than LU's debut. It is road trip music for the rail commuter; liberation doled out one station stop at a time; furniture music taken outside of the house.
