The danger with a purely instrumental album is that it risks fading into insignificance as mere background noise. Whilst this isn’t the first time Allah-Las have attempted to create evocative soundscapes without vocals, it is their first full-length album of this kind. Born out of experimental jam sessions, Sirenas, according to the band, lies somewhere between ‘carefree beach parties’ and ‘new age meditations’ – which essentially describes the familiar sound of the four musicians from Los Angeles, but at first promises little in the way of innovation.
The gently swaying coastal grooves and laid-back guitar riffs capture the typical Allah-Las lightness. Yet Sirenas doesn’t follow any specific concept or goal, but rather impulsive forays and the approach of not overthinking things. Between spiritual receptivity, openness to the unexpected and laid-back melodies, Allah-Las explore their soundscape free from stylistic restrictions. This exploratory endeavour doesn’t exactly make huge waves; rather, it lapping gently against the shore. Yet amidst constant connectivity and consumerism, one is happy to embrace the band’s suggestion to view the new tracks as ‘meditations to help navigate the noise’.
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