The Luyas are relatively new to the indie music scene. Forming in 2006, they quickly gained recognition in their homeland of Canada with the release of their first album Faker Death. The frontgirl, Jessie Stein, has one of the most foreign-sounding voices around, resembling that of an eight year old girl. It reminds me of the twins in The Shining and like a less intense Dolores O'Riordan; it's eerie yet enchanting. Stein also plays a unique instrument that adds a supernatural element to their newest work, Too Beautiful To Work. The Moodswinger resembles a guitar but it's actually a zither because it doesn't have a neck and therefore no frets. It also has three bridges, one of which is a moveable rod intended to divide the 12 strings as the player sees fit. The instrument was created by request. Members of the band Liars contacted Dutch luthier Yuri Landman to make them an instrument. So he made two, one for the band and one for himself. Copies have been subsequently made. Anyway, back to Too Beautiful To Work. This album is kind of weird. They're incredibly repetitive but don't repeat sections like most songs that repeat verse and chorus progressions, so they manage to deter boredom and push the line between creativity and insanity. The majority of this album is quiet and pleasant, but at times they can build a whirl of unexpected noise that doesn't last long. They also consistently incorporate orchestral instruments to color their tracks; without them this album would be incredibly dull.
It's hard to rate and explain Too Beautiful To Work because The Luyas' sound as a whole is something I've never really heard before; it's weird but really pretty at the same time. They may take some getting used to, but others may not even give them a shot. Have a listen and see what you think. Verdict: 2.9/5. Favorite tracks: Too Beautiful To Work, Tiny Head (this video is crazy weird and crazy cool), Cold Canada, and What Mercy Is.
Best, Jonathan
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