Luna Luna Jumps Into the Unknown in 'L.L.'
When sorting through the fodder of laptop-generated, AI-assisted music, a certain malaise is inevitable regardless of its glossy merits. Lacking behind the veneer of perfectly compressed and interconnected samples is the humanity, the gaudy collision of a band. The happy messy collaboration of a group once common is now so rare, but it allows for a narrative no longer heard just in mono but punching rhythmically in stereo, a stylized co-biography. Nothing exemplifies that meshing of influences better than Austin-based Luna Luna and their latest EP, L.L., which emerges as a collision of cultures, brash sounds, and influences merged together like so many stars to form a galaxy in the night sky, a luminous soundtrack to dance beneath.
Like strangers pathing behind each other into a portal, joined by metaphysical materials not seen but felt, the band consisting of vocalist Kavvi, back-up vocalist and keyboardist Danny Bonilla, drummer Kaylin Martinez, and bassist Ryan Gordon came together in Dallas, slowly, growing together over time. Their sound originally was rooted in moody synth-pop, full of wanting ballads and bad breakups, punctuated by hints of funky melodicism that anticipated some of their sound evolution. After several years solidifying their status as one of Dallas’s best bands, the group decided to pivot to Austin, and the shift in environment was a prelude to a shift in their sound as well.
A want of exceptionalism beckons great friendships, and a change of environment beckons great experimentation. In L.L., Luna Luna rewards both these theses with one of the most tightly-knit pivots of their sturdy band sound, delivering a work that feels like a deep breath and exhale before jumping: into the unknown, onto the dance floor, out of your comfort zone.
A mosaic of influences punctuates the EP’s six songs, all remarkable for the potency packed into their relative brevity. Highlighted by the singles “Solo Tu,” a marching order of melody that builds into a dreamy disco effort, “Lonely Lullaby” a drum 'n' bass propelled airy anthem, and “Dance With You,” a luscious house adjacent vibe check featuring a bilingual feature from Short Life, the EP stacks gorgeous tonality with easy chorus to sing along to on repeat. Buttress with contemplative soundscapes like “La Calma” and “Candy Euro,” which show the band's range and incredible maturation in song construction, the remaining track “La Tormenta” is an ethereal dance calling card that drifts between staccato Spanish verses and wavy choruses that could slipstream behind the best of Kevin Parker and Fred again..
It is impossible to succinctly summarize how excellent this EP is, but it drives such hope to what heights this band can ascend to, that maybe an interior of Texas move can put this amazing band into the orbit of mass success, a testament to their diverse influences and a gift for us to dance under.
Listen to L.L. below:
