THE LUKA STATE: Fall In Fall Out (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

If "Fall In Fall Out" is indeed the first long-lasting opus of The Luka State's British band, the latter is not a newcomer on the circuit. Formed in 2013 in Winsford, Cheshire (North West England), the quartet has released several singles that have been hits in Great Britain. They have just signed with BMG, which gives them the opportunity to release this album composed of twelve tracks including an outro and revised versions of some of their previous singles. As usual, the band of Conrad Ellis and Sam Bell is announced as the new sensation of British rock, which will not necessarily trigger a delirious enthusiasm in our regions, the formula is systematically used by our cousins across the Channel as soon as one of their formations gets a little success and launches into an adventure off his island.

And it is clear from the first listenings that, if "Fall In Fall Out" is not devoid of qualities on which we will come back later, The Luka State is not there either to revolutionize a Britrock already well provided in terms of essential formations. The shadows of Muse ('Girl'), The Struts ('[ Girls Name Here]') or Oasis ('Room's On Fire', 'What's My Problem') hover over this opus, as well as the more discreet shadows of The Strokes, The Hives and even The Clash. We find here all the typical urgency of many bands from this part of Great Britain near Manchester and Liverpool. This brutal and straightforward energy is prevalent on tracks such as a 'Bury Me' flirting with punk despite a hyper-groovy rhythm, or a direct 'Fake News' without fuss.

The melodies are nevertheless festive and the choruses are often catchy. For example, the singles 'Feel It' and 'Kick In The Teeth' hit the spot without fail. The drums is also noteworthy because it brings both dynamism and groove, contributing to the originality that The Luka State can sometimes show. Thus 'Kick In The Teeth' oscillates between pop, indie and stoner while giving a furious desire to jump everywhere. The quartet is also able to offer some welcome and soothing breaks with a pop-folk 'Bold' and the eponymous title enriched with a delicate piano and bewitching choruses. Also noteworthy is the vocal performance of Conrad Ellis, who conveys the different emotions with perfection.

Finally, while some pieces are clearly tailored for British FM waves ('Real Thing', 'Girl', 'Bold'), The Luka State manages to retain the attention and to extract itself partially from the mass of formations working in this style. By digging a few tracks and focusing more on its strengths, it will have every chance to clearly mark its territory and make its place on the summits of the genre. - Official website

THE LUKA STATE

FALL IN FALL OUT

BMG

ROCK