Luluc at The Lexington 06.02.2018 

Jetlag beaten with a gig that takes off after a guitar mishap

4/5

‘They’re really jetlagged’ says Max Bloom in support band Yuck, as they go through a solid set tuneful songs with appeal to any 90s Britpop / indie fans, which kept the small but growing crowd entertained.

Luluc, who turn the clocks back a few decades (in music terms at least), begin a set of gorgeous harmonies and melodic, wistful songs harking back to easy listening 70s, evoking something between Simon and Garfunkel and First Aid Kit.

Luluc carry a lot of expectation with star producers (Aaron Dessner) and friends in high places. Perhaps due to the jetlag it seems a bit flat, but then about 3 songs in a string breaks on Zoe Randall’s guitar. After a bit of banter with the crowd (‘I knew this was a punk club’ says Steve Hassett, while gently admonishing a ‘smartypants’ heckler in the crowd), things pick up markedly.  Randall handles a couple of songs on her own as Hassett and then an audience member finish restringing the guitar.

Moon Girl’s gentle picking rhythms and swirling sounds was a particular highlight as songs from all 3 albums got an outing, as well as a few stories behind the music.

A couple of new songs get an airing, a result of a Berlin-based festival in which artists collaborate with each other.  While Randall tells the crowd she wasn’t really keen on the process, the new songs sound sharp – punchier drum loops and melody changes – and give the night variety. 

With a self-deprecating encore of their cover of Nick Drake’s ‘Things Behind the Sun’ and ‘Me and Jasper’, this audience member left happy having attended and looking forward to hearing what happens next.