Stacking layers of off-beat female vocal harmonies surely has some arcane symbolic significance in the music of experimental acts like the Dirty Projectors. 

Ava Luna, on the other hand, just likes classic girl groups. And electro-punk.

The Brooklyn seven-piece band combines them in arresting fashion on “Services,” a new four-song EP set for release Friday when the group performs with Marnie Stern and the Suckers at a yet-to-be-announced super-secret location in Manhattan.

UPDATE: The show is happening at Under 100, 172 Duane St. Doors are at 9 p.m.; the cover is $10 and to get in you MUST RSVP via under100nyc@gmail.com.

SECOND UPDATE: The Under 100 show has been shut down; the new location is Silent Barn in Queens. See the comments below for more.

Founded as a solo project in 2002 by singer and songwriter Carlos Hernandez, the band has expanded over the years to feature tight vocal harmonies, and dance steps, from Felicia Douglass, Becca Kauffman and Siheun Song; along with rock-solid drumming by Alex Smith, blaring synthesizers from Nathaniel Tompkins and, more recently, guttural bass from Ethan Bassford (not pictured above).

Ava Luna recorded “Services” in the basement of a church in Brooklyn. The songs, a sweet blend of electro-rock, vintage soul and the Shirelles, will be available on CDR via New York’s Cooling Pie Records and digitally through Baltimore label Environmental Aesthetic.

LISTEN
Clips mp3

January 21, 2010 at 8:30 am | Share |