Wax Fang - La La Land

  by Paul Waller

published: 9 / 5 / 2010

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If I was planning on following up my rather wonderful debut album and wanted to prove to myself and others alike that I could top it then I couldn’t possibly start any better than Wax Fang have done here with 'La La Land'. The opening double whammy of 'Majestic' followed by 'World War (pt. 2)' is quite the feat. Those that have seen the clever 'World War (pt. 2)' promo video will already be clued up on the song and that it contains that early Built to Spill or 'Hit to Death in the Future Head'-era Flaming Lips feel, although I must admit I would prefer to listen to this. The band plays as if unhinged, stabbing the guitars until they hit the required notes, literally forcing their instruments to obey. By track three the mood has changed and the album proper begins. 'At Sea' floats away melding into the popalicious 'Cannibal Summer'. Never before has an indie rock band rejoiced in a one minute hook laden chorus as much as Wax Fang do here. And so it continues track after track, each containing its own pop moments and avant garde techniques and interludes. I must be on my tenth listen now and still I discover something new with each spin. From the intricate country picking of 'Oh, Recklessness' to the epic ten minute closer 'Wake Up, Sleepyhead!', which features my favourite lyric “You’re going soon to realise that your uniform is the outfit you’ll be wearing at your funeral”, there are moments that gently thrill and many that you can rock out to at a show. With recent high profile supports with Spoon and My Morning Jacket and the upcoming All Tomorrrow's Parties Pavement curated festival at Butlins taking place around this album's release date Wax Fang could well find themselves in the enviable position of pilfering a massive bunch of fans that would normally not have found them otherwise. The only question that remains now is that having released such a fully accomplished and varied record this time around what the hell are they going to come up with for their next one.

Track Listing:-

1 Majestic
2 World War II (Pt. 2)
3 At Sea
4 Cannibal Summer
5 The Doctor Will See You Now
6 Can You See the Light
7 Avant Guardian Angel Dust
8 Oh, Recklessness
9 Black & Endless Night Revisited
10 Wake Up Sleepyhead

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