L/ZARD – Smells Like Love (2020)
L/zard (Lizard) is a band hailing from Liverpool and producing a soft but harsh, classic but cutting sound. The complexities of their music can be traced to the combination of influences including Queens of the Stone Age, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone and The Garden. This unique blend forms a sound quite unlike any other.
The band consists of Noah Ottman (vocals, keys), James Harvey (drums), Jack O’Hanlon (guitar) and Ben Dyer (bass). These scaly enthusiasts have released their third independent single ‘Smells Like Love’. The track revolves around the mindset of one person becoming the object of all your desires and how everything around you links to them in near obsession.
‘Smells Like Love’ has a soft and smooth synth opening. The gentle notes accompany Ottman’s smooth vocals to start building the idea of obsession. As the track progresses, the introduction of the guitar adds to the longing in the vocals. However, the track does take a somewhat sinister turn where you can feel the obsession overtaking someone.
The overall sound of the track is very unique and perfectly executed. The changes in the sound throughout the track make it feel heavy, but in a good way. While there are changes, the overall tone of the track stays true.
L/zard is able to turn the feelings of overwhelming desire and obsessions into music with ‘Smells Like Love’. The track is smooth with cutting sections combining synth, jazz and rock. They are able to build the heavy atmosphere of obsession with the music while the vocals clearly tell the tale.
Find out more about L/zard on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
