Lachane - LACHANE (2018)

Hailing out of Austin, abstract pop duo LACHANE
makes an exquisite Holodeck debut with their self-
titled cassette out 02/09/18. LACHANE's unique use of
industrial trap beats and chopped & screwed vocals
offers a fresh take on contemporary electronic music.
Lead by producer and singer Melissa Cha, LACHANE
rejects all things upbeat in favor of drudging, half-time
rhythms and slowly melting synth and guitar tones.
LACHANE's songwriting embraces hopelessness as a
method of expressing beauty and has found a
compelling union of ominous mood and dense
texture.

LACHANE formed in 2015 out of Austin’s deep synth
community when Cha bonded with guitarist Ryan Garl
over their backgrounds in ambient music and mutual
love for rap. As a result, booming sub-bass, blown out
snares and bursts of hi hat triplets are the hallmark of
almost every song. Cha approaches vocals like a
multifaceted instrument by stacking layers of re-
pitched samples and ghostly whispers underneath her
live singing. Cha’s elegant voice is instantly soothing,
grounding LACHANE's compositions while allowing the
instrumentation freedom to mutate and decay. Garl’s
bleak guitar work blends perfectly with the complex
arrangements of percussion and sequenced analog
synth melodies. Every element of LACHANE's new self-
titled debut has been carefully crafted or destroyed to
compile an engaging collection of heavy and inspiring
pieces.

Songs like “Fandeath” and the first single “Ideal-I” are
cathartic ballads that are tenaciously catchy despite
their mournful overtones. LACHANE's dark palette
brings richness out of minimalism by utilizing a thick
array of treatments and processing. The gnarled
samples and sound effects on “Yellow Dust” and
“Cramp” construct vast and brooding soundscapes
that are deliberately creepy yet undeniably alluring.

There is an undercurrent of creative brilliance
throughout all eight tracks of LACHANE's haunting self-
titled debut. Their raw and original style makes them a
standout addition to the Holodeck roster.