While some bands sound like they’re trying a little too hard to capture a feeling, Ladyhawk has a sound that seems to come as naturally as breathing. Their music sound effortless, even haunting at times — rock with a country vibe in the vein of Neil Young.
Their new CD Shots came out in March, and the lead track is called “I don’t always know what you’re saying.” The guitar chugs along beneath the hearty vocals lending a hard-working sound to the song. “STHD” comes up next, and employs a poppier sounding vocal style, like a deeper voiced Hot Hot Heat. The chorus employs the use of group vocals, and while they’re simply singing notes and not words, it sounds joyous.
“Fear” is a track that wears its southern blues influence out in the open. The opening has a hollow, empty sound to match the mood, but as the track fills in at the refrain the vocals become more powerful as well. “Corpse Paint” has an eerie sound due to the dissonant chords interspersed through the song. The music is less complex and more spacious, almost like the song needed to make room for the wailing that happen around halfway through the track.
One of the best songs on the album is “Night You’re Beautiful.” The song has a mischievous sound due to the way the guitar line seems to prance around, and the female back-up “doo-do-doo”s are a good contrast to the masculine vocals. “You Ran” is an up-tempo, tense effort that sounds like the band is trying to catch whoever the song is named after. The song uses the same group vocals technique found in “STHD,” though it’s done here for about half the song to great effect.
The CD closes with the epic “Ghost Blues.” The song is over 10 minutes long but builds steadily as the band plays, like an Allman Brothers Band song with less old-style blues and more southern-rock. Eventually the song breaks loose and the band shouts the lyrics almost atonally, which adds tension to an already intense piece.
Ladyhawk will be playing Soundlab (110 Pearl St.) on Saturday May 3. More information can be found at http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawk
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