Ross La Vel – For the Lady

Ross La Vel – For the Lady

BANDCAMP: https://rosslavel.bandcamp.com/track/for-the-lady

After enduring an extended hiatus that saw him conquer more personal strife than most human beings can bear to stomach in one lifetime, legendary indie singer/songwriter Ross La Vel returns with his new three track extended play For the Lady, which sees him not only looking better than ever but ready to take on a new era in recording. For the Lady is the exact shot of romantic lust that 2018 was really aching for and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Ross La Vel has been away from the spotlight for a hot minute, but he’s returning to a scene that isn’t just ready to embrace his style of play; they’re ready to embrace him, too.

For most hardcore music fans, Ross La Vel has become a cherished figure in the history of the Australian underground. His work never received the full credit that it deserved for shaping an entire faction of international indie pop, but that’s begun to change in recent years. This emerging generation of contemporary listeners has a much more refined palate than those who came before them, and they’ve got a discerning enough taste to know they’re hearing a real gem when they give La Vel’s classic material a spin.

For the Lady is driven by its star opening track, a song titled “Fly Away with Me” that is easily the most hauntingly vulnerable song I’ve listened to in years. It’s almost as if we’re listening to a man completely removed from himself and able to describe every element of his life from an external perspective. La Vel’s prose is witty and darkly introspective, his narrative extremely personal. The production value of this song alone warrants anyone with a pulse picking up a copy of this EP, but it isn’t the only small treasure to be found on For the Lady.

I sincerely hope that La Vel makes some more original music in the near future beyond this record. I’d love to see him collaborate with other artists abroad representing various styles and scenes. His approach to the craft is so versatile and open-minded that his presence can have a positive impact on virtually any kind of music, and it’s that sort of transcendent attitude that has led to the very hype that surrounds For the Lady today. His music is sorely desired by audiences of the 21^st century, and I don’t know if I could stand it if this was the only post-2000 release he shares with us.

It’s a lofty nomination, but I would be a fool not to name For the Lady as my pick for comeback record of the 2010s. After so many years away from the professional arena, Ross La Vel has marched back into our world like it’s the very next day and somehow doesn’t have any rust to shake off from his long time gone. It’s been a privilege to listen to this record ahead of its release, but I deeply hope that it isn’t the last one I have the chance to review before 2020.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Ross-Vel/dp/B000R9Y7S0

Mindy McCall