Johnny Cash on a bad (bad meaning 80s good) acid trip, driving down the 101 from SB to SD with a fourteen year old Drew Barrymore in the front seat crying, "I want my REAL MOM! I want my REAL MOM!" while Sepultura's 'Give Me Back My Spleen' as covered by Elliott Smith is on 88.9. Pure heartbreak baby! Give me MORE!!! -Craig Sparkles
Vulnerable at times and absolutely frenzied at others, the LAVAS sound as if the Troggs were clobbering out Cheap Trick AM radio material with an ecstasy-tripping Joan Jett sitting in on vocals. A sound, that has increasingly been shaped by the unerring instincts and unflagging energy, not to mention the sassy full-throated voice of Alice Austin. When she digs her vocal chords into the songs, there’s a delicate balance between the-girl-next-door and the psychopath that leads one to believe she wouldn’t hesitate to boil your bunny.
It starts to smolder, then erupts out the speakers slamming semi sonic youth garage sounds of sensation. That’s the get go of the 'Wall to Wall' release. Opening track “Circulation” does just that to the corpuscles. “Twist and jive to the Jesus station” with a rock and roll revelation. Pencil inserted deep, send me a tech cause there’s sparks a flaring. All things flow, a beginning to an end.
The aggressive “North Star” will lead the way with tour guide Alice Austin anguished wails of pain and pleasure all the while generating guitar chaos. Teeth shattering pedal filteration puts tazers on phase.
The fuzz settles as the fabulous “Last Attempt” assembles. Flowing solid with sweet keyed highs and low down lows. Mr. Reed like intro, as far as it goes, gentle as she shows. Full flung attitude, go with the girl.
Absolute favorite “Diamond Days” leaves love in my heart and purpose in my soul. Songs like this heal wounds and renew purpose. Reflective of the utmost creative songwriting Alice is so capable of. She could "Say anything at all". Just be with me.
Groove saturated guitar fill insulates mood and penetrates deep in “Water Like A Creature”. A, C and D are your best friends with slippy slide, if my tune serves me correct. “Pull me out, pull me out.”
1234, shimmy shake with down right wail awaits those who venture into “Fake Statue”. Stripes and solids with down right speakeasy jump. “I could never live without you”. Such commitment, so believable.
Feedback fueled acoustic colors melancholy mindscapes in “Void”. Love comparisons inevitable, if at least celebrity skin like feel, but variations eliminate copycat. Filling it just fine. "A void to avoid” but embrace this one. Go ahead and "Pull me down". Less is more as the catchy lead is feel good infectious.
Collision course dead ahead, “We Collide” comes at you like the nitro on the wrong side of the road. Big and ominous. Keep alive.
Draw the blood, “My Red” has Foo Fighter Big Me appeal with pop rocks signature surprise. Attached to an inner being of supremacy.
Hypnotic closer and title track “Wall to Wall” is a dreamy almost 4AD presentation. However, the LAVAS take it to a no shoe gazing plateau to trip the light fantastic. Make it last baby.
Get up on your feet and shake what God hath given.the LAVAS molten melee of tour de rock in the guise of "Wall to Wall" has sound savories shimming. Get yours and wear the thermo nuclears.
Hey Jeff ..... you guys have a cool sound. Really liked Fake statue & Last Attempt. Thanks again for being so cool at the Whisky .... it was our first road trip
hey lavas! - thanx for checkin' out koi records! we dig the tunes and it's an honor to have you as our friends! cheers, mark and rebecca www.koirecords.com
Great to hear from you! Maureen here from The Brooklyns, saw you play last year at the Cantab with one of Tom's other bands, the Fighting Cocks (Tom's the drummer of the FC's, and lead guitarist in The Brooklyns). Your voice Rocks, my dear, and I think we should play together....hey, "two chicks, two sounds, same attitude."
