The Lava Children
The Lava Children EP
Graveface; 2009
When I sat down to write about the self-titled debut EP from Tulsa, OK duo The Lava Children, I immediately wanted to start name-dropping other bands and artists as a means of comparison. Such a practice is a common indulgence when examining the music of a lesser-known band, since writers want to provide readers with something they can latch upon when reading a review. For instance, it would be easy to describe the act’s sound as a curious combination of psych-folk and trippy ‘60s pop with aspects of Deerhoof and Animal Collective tossed in, for good measure. However, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t state how I feel that the group’s left-of-center art-pop sound never really finds its footing over the course of the five songs on this project. While “Firefly” and “Troll” are shine with quirky glee, “I Am A Pony” and “Particles” falter under the heavy weight of the stylistic ambitions foisted upon them. Overall, this record concocts an atmosphere that is akin to a rather awkward fairy tale: the dreamy guitars and yelping female vocals are laden with reverb and delay aplenty in an attempt to create an otherworldly sound, but the result is more than a bit confusing.