La Sera’s New Dawn

La Sera, fronted by Vivian Girls singer/guitarist Katy Goodman, comes back with a few new members and a slightly edgier sound. Their last album, Sees The Light, was almost monotonic in its sounds— the album as a whole was light and soothing musically, but that’s shifted a bit. Hour of the Dawn features the same characteristics of the group’s previous work, but has a little something extra added in.

The album’s first track, “Losing to the Dark,” opens with a harder edge than songs from the previous album. The vocals are still smooth, but are heavier. “I can’t live like this forever / losing to the dark / I won’t live like this forever / Losing to the dark.”

It’s still La Sera, but there’s a change in the music. There’s a steady movement that isn’t found in the previous work.  Goodman’s sweet vocals are still characterized by light melodies but find a happy balance with the newfound aggressiveness. “All My Love Is For You” showcases guitar distortion and a good old-fashioned solo to change the attitude of the song, echoed in lyrics like,  “My heart / Is yours / To throw away.”

The final track of the album, appropriately titled “Storm’s End,” is incredibly fitting. The newfound madness in the music takes you along and closes on a note of calamity. No distinguishable lyrics, but a few garbled loops of a collection of words are played on top of the music. It’s a good closing note that almost makes you wish the storm wouldn’t end.

Overall, Hour of the Dawn is exactly that; it is a newer sound and a positive shift by the band toward a rockier direction. The light vocals are never strained, but hold their own over the chaotic mass of sound that looks to be the new La Sera. If that’s the case, bring on the new day.