Luluc

Luluc (Lou-Luke) are an Australian band, consisting of Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett, currently based in Brooklyn, New York. They have released four albums to widespread critical acclaim; 'Dear Hamlyn', 'Passerby', 'Sculptor' on Sub Pop records and Mistletone Records (for Aus/NZ)[2] and 'Dreamboat' (Sun Chaser Records) in October 2020. The band is admired for their poetic writing, exquisite musicianship and understated yet compelling sound.

Luluc
Luluc at Newtown Social Club
Luluc at Newtown Social Club 2015
Background information
OriginMelbourne[1]
GenresIndie folk
Years active2009–present
LabelsSun Chaser, Sub Pop, Mistletone
Websitewww.luluc.org
MembersZoë Randell
Steven Hassett

Albums

Dreamboat – 2020

Luluc released Dreamboat on October 23, 2020 to critical acclaim. Jay Ruttenberg in The New Yorker wrote "Throughout “Dreamboat,” Luluc's fourth album, Randell's singing is crystalline and unflappable, with a strange beauty that verges on creepy—it's the kind of voice that, on a movie soundtrack, portends unspeakable doom".[3] Uncut Magazine wrote, "Randell's vocals, timeless and pure, carries something of a myth-making quality in its timbre" (Jan 2021).

Emerald City, the first song from Dreamboat, was featured by NPR All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen declared "I'm thrilled to play new music from Luluc. The duo of Zoe Randell and Steve Hassett made two of my favorite albums from the 2010s, and now they're back with a unique sound".[4]

Sculptor – 2018

Released on 13 July 2018, Sculptor was produced by Steve Hassett and Zoe Randell in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.[5] It features guest appearances from J Mascis, Aaron Dessner and Jim White among others.[6] In its first month of release, it won worldwide praise including Uncut Magazine's Album of the Month[7] and 4 star and 8/10 reviews in The Guardian,[8] Mojo,[9] Line of Best Fit,[10] Under the Radar[11] and Q Magazine.[12] Sculptor received BBC6 and BBC2 airplay, including on Iggy Pop's LA Confidential[13]

Mojo observed that "Sculptor yields centre-stage to Randell's haiku-like celebrations of human spirit and suburban transcendence".[14] Uncut declared "Sculptor is the strongest and most assured record of their career. The songs dig deep emotionally – but critically their aesthetics are well-balanced, the voice and instruments perfectly calibrated...Sculptor is wide open".[15] Line of Best Fit concluded "Ultimately, the album repays careful and repeated attention, its varied qualities cohering effectively with a measured sense of control".[16] Live reviews have also been full of praise "Randall’s voice was warm and rich with each lyric that fell on the audience...Their overall sound was marked by a timelessness that also felt avant-garde in its minimalism".[17]

Passerby – 2014

Passerby has received wide critical acclaim and was listed as the #1 album of 2014 by NPR Music's Bob Boilen[18] and Stephen Thompson.[19] Released on 15 July 2014,[20] the album was co-produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, and recorded at his studio in Brooklyn. Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman, met and signed the band within 48 hours of hearing the master recordings.[21] Poneman was sent the Passerby Masters by Peter Blackstock, co-founder of No Depression magazine.

The Wall Street Journal named "Passerby" as one of their best fifteen albums of 2014.[22] Wilco named Passerby one of their "favourite recent releases" in 2015.[23]


The album received 4 and 5 star reviews in Mojo, Bust, Allmusic and Lesinrocks amongst others.[24][25][26][27] Passerby was No 1 added to CMJ radio in its week of release. Dave Di Martino wrote in Rolling Stone USA that the record is a "timeless, quietly special set" and that "Passerby is gorgeous and refined through and through".[28]

Dear Hamlyn – 2008

Luluc released their debut album, Dear Hamlyn, in 2008; the songs were written following the death of Randell's father.[29][30] Dear Hamlyn eventually gained a large group of influential admirers. Peter Blackstock co-founder of No Depression Magazine, wrote of the album, "The most beautiful album I've heard in ten years."[31] In 2011 Nick Drake's producer, Joe Boyd, also taken by Dear Hamlyn, invited Luluc to feature in his Nick Drake tribute tour. They contributed the tracks "Things Behind the Sun" and "Fly" to the live tribute album, Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake in 2013.[32] Dear Hamlyn was reissued and given worldwide release on Sub Pop Records March 8, 2019[33]

Collaborations

Zoe Randell co-wrote The National song 'Pink Rabbits' from their 2012 album Trouble Will Find Me[34]

Zoe & Steve sang backing vocals on the Leonard Cohen song “Listen to the Hummingbird” on Cohens final album Thanks for the Dance.[35]

Luluc were invited by Nick Drake's manager/producer, Joe Boyd, to cover Drake's songs as part of the Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake tour and live album. Luluc's version of "Things Behind the Sun" was chosen as a lead single.[32]

Steve sang backing vocals on The National song "Lean" which was recorded for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.[36]

Luluc covered the Townes Van Zandt song "None But the Rain" for the More Townes from the Great Unknown compilation.[37]

Luluc covered The Flatlanders' song "Keeper of the Mountain" for the Italian magazine OndaRock's Outlaw Country compilation.[38]

Luluc performed the Doug Sahm song "Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day" at the 2015 Doug Sahm Tribute concert in Austin Texas.[39]

Luluc collaborated with Xylouris White (Jim White (drummer) of Dirty Three, and Cretan Lute Master Giorgos Xylouris) on a cover of The Grateful Dead's "Til the Morning Comes" for the tribute album Day of the Dead. The project was curated by Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner of The National (band), with proceeds benefitting the Red Hot Organization.[40]

Steve Hassett and Zoe Randell sing backing vocals on Big Red Machine;[41] the collaborative project between Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner.

Zoe Randell sang harmonies on J Mascis song 'I Went Dust' from Elastic Days.

Touring

Luluc have toured North America, EU, Aus/NZ on release of Dear Hamlyn, Passerby and Sculptor. They have toured with The National, J Mascis, Dinosaur Jr., Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes, Jose Gonzalez and Lucinda Williams among others.

Luluc have performed at numerous festivals around the world including; All Tomorrow's Parties (Curated by The National), Golden Plains Festival, Wilco's Solid Sound Festival, the Newport Folk Festival, St Jerome's Laneway Festival, SXSW, the 2018 PEOPLE Festival at the Funkhaus in Berlin and more. Luluc have performed at major venues worldwide including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts as part of the 2016 American Songbook series,[42] The Sydney Opera House[43] and the O2 Apollo Manchester.[44]

Television appearances

Luluc recorded at NPR Music's 'Tiny Desk' in September 2014. Host Bob Boilen remarked "I've spent more time listening to Luluc's second album, Passerby, than any other album this year. It's a calming, seemingly effortless affair: a marriage of graceful singing and storytelling, with guitars and textures that help create an unforgettable aura".[45]

Luluc performed numerous songs live for Other Voices in 2014, including Passerby where they were joined by Aaron Dessner[46] and Little Suitcase (Zoe performing solo).[47]

Luluc's songs "I Found You" (Season 6, episode 19)[48] and "One Day Soon" (Season 6, episode 21)[49] were featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.

Luluc song "Kids" was featured on ABC TV Series 2 of Mystery Road directed by Warwick Thornton, Wayne Blair and Rachel Perkins.

Luluc's "Gold on the Leaves" was featured on Season 10, episode 4 of Criminal Minds.[50]

Luluc's "Star" was featured on Season 6, episode 6 of Parenthood.[51]

Discography

Albums
  • Dear Hamlyn - 2008
  • Passerby - 2014
  • Sculptor - 2018
  • Dreamboat - 2020

References
  1. Nail, Jonny. "Australian Premiere: Luluc 'Tangled Heart'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. "Luluc : Mistletone". Mistletone.net. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  3. Ruttenberg, Jay. "Luluc Dreamboat". New Yorker. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. Boilen, Bob. "New Mix: Luluc". NPR All Songs Considered. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "Luluc on Sub Pop Records". Sub Pop. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  6. "Luluc on Sub Pop Records". Subpop.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  7. Bonner, Michael. "Luluc Sculptor". Uncut Magazine (August 2018): 18–21.
  8. Hann, Michael. "Luluc: Sculptor review – the hushed sounds of the suburbs". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  9. Sheppard, David. "Luluc Sculptor". Mojo Magazine (August 2018).
  10. Honeybourne, Ray (24 June 2018). "Luluc's characteristically intricate songwriting shines on Sculptor". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  11. Conner, Matt (11 July 2018). "Luluc Sculptor". Under The Radar. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  12. Barton, Laura (3 August 2018). "Luluc Sculptor". Q Magazine (August 2018).
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yblbx
  14. https://www.metacritic.com/music/sculptor/luluc
  15. https://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/praise-lulucs-sculptor-106734
  16. Honeybourne, Ray. "Luluc's characteristically intricate songwriting shines on Sculptor". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  17. http://survivingthegoldenage.com/j-mascis-friends-worth-the-wait/
  18. Boilen, Bob. "Bob Boilen's Top 10 Albums of 2014". NPR. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  19. Thompson, Stephen. "Stephen Thompson's Top 10 Albums of 2014". NPR. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  20. Monger, Timothy. "Luluc, Passerby". AllMusic.
  21. "Luluc on Sub Pop Records". Subpop.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  22. Fusilli, Jim. "The Best Music of 2014: Independent Artists Far From the Cotton-Candy Mainstream". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  23. https://twitter.com/zulfikarabbany/status/627960398810083328
  24. Timothy Monger (15 July 2014). "Passerby – Luluc | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  25. "Luluc, grandes petites ballades folk". Les Inrocks. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  26. "Touring: Luluc". Mistletone. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  27. "Reviews for Passerby by Luluc". Metacritic. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  28. Dave Di Martino (16 July 2014). "Passerby". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  29. "Album review: Luluc, Passerby – Entertainment – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  30. Anthony Carew. "CD review: Luluc's new album Passerby". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  31. "Luluc – All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  32. James Christopher Monger. "Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  33. https://www.subpop.com/news/2019/02/04/sub_pop_will_reissue_lulucs_debut_album_dear_hamlyn_on_vinyl_and_digital_out_friday_march_8th
  34. "Pink Rabbits". APRA AMCOS.
  35. Cohen, Leonard. "Thanks for the Dance".
  36. "Hunger Games: Catching Fire". BarnesandNoble.com.
  37. "More Townes Van Zandt by the Great Unknown". AllMusic.
  38. "OndaDrops Vol. 4". ondarock.it.
  39. Graff, Gary. "SXSW 2015: Doug Sahm Honored During All-Star Tribute Concert With Steve Earle, Robert Rodriguez & More". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  40. "Day of the Dead". Day of the Dead.
  41. "PEOPLE". 37d03d.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  42. "Lincoln Center". Lincolncenter.org. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  43. "Melbourne Recital Centre announce a third performance for WAY TO BLUE". Gaynorcrawford.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  44. "The National at O2 Apollo Manchester (Manchester) on 22 Sep 2017". Last.fm. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  45. "Tiny Desk – Luluc". Npr.org.
  46. "Passerby - Other Voices". Othervoices.ie. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  47. "Little Suitcase - Other Voices". Othervoices.ie. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  48. "Music from Grey's Anatomy". Tunefind.com.
  49. "Music from Grey's Anatomy". Tunefind.com.
  50. "Music from Criminal Minds". Tunefind.com.
  51. "Music from Parenthood". Tunefind.com.
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