In a tasteful blending of folk-tinged pop and rock, the three sisters who front Laska – Hannah, Mookie, and Bex Morton – have crafted a beautiful new record that highlights the emotional vulnerability in their seemingly genetic songwriting talent.
Supported by standout features like cascading string sounds, crisp acoustic guitar, haunting piano, and angelic harmony, their new album Endless Patcher hits the listener like a cold morning dew in a pine forest.
A soothing voice gently guides the listener into the record on the opening track “Muddy Sky,” a relatively short intro that utilizes sparse instrumentation and melancholic vocals to build anticipation and intrigue. With such an opening, the tone is masterfully set for a record that finds a balance between the rugged and the tranquil.
One of two singles for this album, “Dog Bite,” gave listeners a preview of the band’s knack for pop melody glued into a folk-rock soundscape. Arpeggiated acoustic guitar cascades through the track while anchored by a serene vocal and steady rock beat. With lyrics like “Feeling stuck these days, filling up with doubt,” it’s a relatable song in these strange times, which makes it all the more relevant. The song stirs up the stinging bite of nostalgia.
Defined by haunting piano, melancholic strings, and tight harmony, “Purple, Blue,” is a standout. It’s the type of song that reminds me of looking out the window on a long car ride home, imagining myself as a protagonist in a movie who’s been through hell and finally has some time to unwind.
With a mix reminiscent of West Coast bliss and Midwestern angst, “Funhouse,” is more akin to the Laurel Canyon sound than the rest of the record with its guitar bends and slides. Another one of the two singles, it highlights the band’s eclectic influences and again their knack for melody. As the song finishes, I find myself humming along.
Finishing up the record as it started, with sparseness and vulnerability, “Stale Mornings” utilizes the repetition of the lyrics, “There are still stale mornings,” to really drive home the record’s lonely themes of longing for change and reflecting on the past. In this album closer, the harmony flows through like a chilly breeze. Throughout this record, the band’s naturally tight harmonies are a highlight.
As Hannah Morton of the band says of Endless Patcher, “We’re always going through something, and that’s just another part of life we need to find the joy in. Always adding another patch to the jacket.” This record is a unique sonic experience, and something that the listener can surely find joy and relatability in.
Catch LASKA on the “Endless Patcher Release Tour” in Spring/Summer 2022:
June 3 – Amsterdam Bar & Hall – Saint Paul, Minnesota (Endless Patcher Album Release Show)
June 4 – Riverview – Davenport, Iowa
June 5 – Pink Pit House Show – Saint Louis, Missouri
June 7 – The Cobra – Nashville, Tennessee
June 8 – Isis Music Hall – Asheville, North Carolina
June 9 – Red Light Cafe – Atlanta, Georgia
June 10 – Dorm Eleven – Muscle Shoals, Alabama
June 12 – Melody Inn – Indianapolis, Indiana
June 13 – The Cactus Club – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 14 – The Bur Oak – Madison, Wisconsin
July 11 – SoFar Sound Sessions – Los Angeles, California
July 14 – Spanish Ballroom – Tacoma, Washington
July 15 – South Bay Pub – Olympia, Washington
July 16 – SoFar Sound Sessions – Portand, Oregon
July 17 – Salem Arts Festival – Salem, Oregon
July 18 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, Washington
July 19 – Honey Latte – Portand, Oregon
July 20 – Sam Bond’s Garage – Eugene, Oregon
July 21 – Infinity Room – Salem, Oregon
