The Lava Province-Strangeway

Artist: The Lava Province
Title: Strangeway
Genre: Rock-Pop
Label: Independent
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Laurens Vernot is a multi-talented musician that has dubbed himself as The Lava Province and his recent release Strangeway explores his affinity for crafty melodious rhythmic pop-rock with lyrics that are easily assimilated. Does this sound like your cup of tea? It certainly sets me right. This music reminds me of favorite 70s bands like 10cc and T-Rex, and other pop-rock kings that dominated the charts during the classic rock era.

Every track has a underlying principle and connotation behind it, backed with synchronized rhythm sections, guitar lines that punctuate the lyrics, and Vernot’s agreeable vocal style. The title song suggests schizophrenia and then “The Sign” goes in an entirely different direction, the subject being the anticipation of being ready for whatever transpires. The tracks that really caught my ear the most were “California Dream,” which is about sexual tourism-gee, big surprise there. If you have ever been to a beach in the Los Angeles area, then it does not need any further explanation. “April and October” was another favorite; it is loaded with irresistible hooks and lyrics of yearning and reminiscing.

The pace of each track is for the most part the same but in different degrees. This is pop and rock with just the right serving of each facet filled in at just the right time. Everything seems to fit like a glove on this album. There are no surprises, just consistency, and a lot of pleasing music. It was good enough for a few spins and then some for this listener. This will give you the warm fuzzies if you grew up in the 70s.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

October 10, 2006

01. Strangeway (4:38)
02. The Sign (4:08)
03. Back Here Again (3:22)
04. Let It Go On (3:42)
05. Come To Me (3:41)
06. Can't Keep Me Away (3:15)
07. Better Off At Home (4:13)
08. Never Learned (3:48)
09. California Dream (3:53)
10. April And October (4:47)
11. An Average Man (4:02)

Musicians:

Laurens Vernot - Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
Leo Vigil - Drums
Daria Sarraf - Harp