Photo Credit: Ray Flotat
Over the course of the band’s first three full length studio albums, La Sera operated mainly as a solo gig for former Vivian Girls bassist Katy Goodman. However, life changes and now La Sera is a full-fledged duo, with Goodman’s husband Todd Wisenbaker joining the fold and even providing vocals on a few songs, including the band’s latest track, “I Need An Angel.” While Wisenbaker did work with Goodman as a guitarist on La Sera’s last record, Hour of the Dawn, this time around he is a full-time collaborator.
The husband and wife songwriting team were joined by none other than Ryan Adams for the production of the tongue-twister-titled Music For Listening to Music To. His stellar production work allows Goodman and Wisenbaker to approach the band’s sound from a new direction, giving the songs a bit more of the alt-country twang that was previously alluded to on La Sera releases but was never fully captured in this manner.
The latest single to be released from the album is “I Need An Angel,” and the song falls directly into the evolutionary path of what La Sera has become.
“I Need An Angel” is not a dramatic departure for the band, as it features Goodman’s trademark saccharine sweet vocals layered atop a driving, punk-inspired pop song-structure. Adams gives the song a touch of 80s style production quality, at times sounding like a vintage track by The Pretenders or The Bangles. And of course, long-time La Sera fans may be taken aback by the appearance of some male vocals, provided care of Wisenbaker.
“I Need An Angel” follows “High Notes” as the first two singles to be released off of Music For Listening to Music To. The album’s initial single was released in late January, and just a few days later, a video for the song surfaced online.
Music For Listening to Music To will be released on March 16 via Polyvinyl Records.
La Sera is currently on a short run of tour dates in support of the album:
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24 February, 2016 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop – Album release party!
10 March, 2016 – Las Vegas, NV @ Neon Reverb Fest
11 March, 2016 – Palm Springs, CA @ The Ace Hotel
12 March, 2016 – Echo Park, CA @ The Echo – Forcefield PR 10 Year Anniversary Party
06 May, 2016 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
07 May, 2016 – Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar
08 May, 2016 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison
09 May, 2016 – Montreal, QC @ Casa del Popolo
10 May, 2016 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
11 May, 2016 – Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel
12 May, 2016 – Washington D.C. @ 9:30 Club #
13 May, 2016 – Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant Street #
14 May, 2016 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner #
15 May, 2016 – Champaign, IL @ The Accord #
16 May, 2016 – Lincoln, NE @ Vega #
17 May, 2016 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre #
18 May, 2016 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad #
19 May, 2016 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge #
20 May, 2016 – San Diego, CA @ Ché Café #
23 May, 2016 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda #
27 May, 2016 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall #
# – with Titus Andronicus