La Sera – La Sera

Some bands instigate scenes by inspiring others to emulate them; others simply go forth and multiply. The Vivian Girls seem to be inadvertently following the second route: Ali Koehler left to backup Best Coast; Frankie Rose assembled her Outs via a stint in the Dum Dum Girls; Cassie’s raising The Babies; while Katy Goodman (aka Kickball Katy) emerged last year under the guise of All Saints Day. Now Katy launches side-project number two, and if the bands just name-checked float your boat, La Sera should provide further buoyancy.

This self-titled offering ticks off all the expected adjectives: dreamy, wistful and, er, Philspectory, but casual fans of the style may struggle to find grip-holds with which to anchor this debut’s pretty sounds. It might lack the playful personality that helped crown Bethany Cosentino last year’s ‘Queen of This Sort of Thing’, but deserves comparable adulation thanks to two-minute marvels like single Never Come Around. [Chris Buckle]