Kevin Bronson on April 5th, 2013

0

The urgency of the synth-wielding post-punk bands of the 1980s provides the undercurrent for “VIVA,” the first full-length from L.A. Girlfriend. The nom de tune of Loyola Marymount product Sydney-Allyson Banta, L.A. Girlfriend can be playful and alluring but, as her flirtations with the would-be suitors in the Dustin Muenchow-directed video for “Gentlemen” suggest, there’s a darker side that discourages trifling. What to do then? Why, dance of course. An album that embraces (though not too tightly) Banta’s affection for New Order, “VIVA” came out this week, following up an EP and a couple of singles that cast our heroine as a brainy romantic who, quite possibly, is not quite ready to capitalize that “G” in girlfriend. At least in matters of the heart.

||| Download: “Gentlemen”

||| Previously: The “Youth” EP and more.