Album Reviews: Ok To Land by Livingmore
Review by Joseph Timmons: IndiePulse Music Journalist
OK To Land by Livingmore is the newest major release on the Nomad Eel Records Label, a full on sensational album the Fem Fronted Rock group. In a sound that is a fun throwback to an 80’s mix of Rock, Pop and a 90’s Alternative Post-Pop collective. The Vocals, powered by the talents of Alex Moore remind me of early Blondie, but with a melody and ambience that is unique, this, with the talents of Guitarist Spencer Livingston, also on vocals, Mike Schadel on drums and Rodrigo Moreno on bass create a full and unapologetic mind blowing ensemble of sound.
This Los Angeles based band is ready to; if not already from their immense fandom have, emerge from their cocoon with this official “debut” album, Ok To Land. Taking cues from acts like Rilo Kiley, Mitski and Jenny Lewis, and adding their own eccentric and optimistic touch, the band has channeled the ultimate feel good album, Ok To Land.
The band, originated with songwriters Alex Moore and Spencer Livingston, who met in Los Angeles in 2014, with the help of Mike Schadel on drums and Rodrigo Moreno on bass have generated buzz from the HypeM blogosphere with the release of their self-titled EP in 2015. Drawing inspiration across several genres and from acts such as Garbage and The Kinks to Belle and Sebastian, Moore and Livingston write dreamy, optimistic songs that sound like, in their own words – “a mixture of Blondie and The Everly Brothers.”– see, told ya so.
Really Mean It – Official Video
The record’s anthemic title track, ‘Really Mean It’ is accompanied by an animated stop motion video created by Moore’s brother, Dillon. “We really just wanted to make a video that was totally organic and back to basics but at the same time unique and fresh. That’s kind of what this band is really about when you get down to it,” he explains.
From the childlike essence of trying to decide what to do when you grow up in ‘Cocoon,’ to the upbeat and straightforward ‘Never Slow Down,’ to the slow and dreamy ‘Transition,’ Livingmore’s first full length record is a lush collection of indie pop tracks with an underlying theme of optimism.
“We never really plan when we’re going to write, we just wait for it to happen,” Livingston notes, while explaining the band’s songwriting process. Each song has a totally organic approach – sometimes born from Livingston playing a melody and Moore composing accompanying lyrics on the spot while other times with both of them writing songs separately and meeting in the middle.
The band is quoted to say “We can be reborn in all kinds of different ways, where now we feel like butterflies again. We’ve regained confidence in ourselves and are ready to move to the next chapter, whatever that may be,”
Livingmore’s album Ok To Land, is presently available on their Bandcamp page on CD and Download, but we excitedly await the upcoming Vinyl release of this groundbreaking album, coming this summer. As always, everything is better on Vinyl, and this alum is already a solid gold platter in the wings to be added to the best of collections.
Learn more about and hear the magic on Livingmore online at-
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