Northampton’s LuxDeluxe takes the buoyancy of electropop and collides it head-on with the lethargy of Americana. To celebrate the release of their LP Let’s Do Lunch on Old Flame Records, LuxDeluxe will be playing at the Middle East Upstairs on May 27th.

“What you need is more than I’ve got,” vocalist Ned King sings on “What You Need,” the opening track on It’s A Girl. King’s voice is strained, but not painfully so — there’s a confidence behind the words, though they admit defeat. The song opens with glittering synth, punctuated by Jake Edwards’ drumming. The song builds until it’s dialed back with some violin, further complicating the tapestry of sounds LuxDeluxe weaves with each song.

LuxDeluxe makes use of vintage instruments on many of their tracks; particularly so on It’s A Girl. The clavinet, as well as vintage guitars, basses, and even amps, lend themselves to creating a wistful, dated sound. Their upcoming release Let’s Do Lunch was recorded entirely on a Tascam cassette recorder, according to the band’s website. 

“Keep Your Distance” is the first single off Let’s Do Lunch. Though the song is 1:57 long, it barrels ahead at full speed — bass and drums gallop together to form a heartbeat for the song. Caleb Rosazza’s punchy interjections on guitar recall Wilco. And if you come out to the show, you get to witness King’s dance moves in person.

LuxDeluxe has earned a reputation for their energetic live sets. Watching any of their music videos gives you a glimpse of what’s to come: King embodies the sensual rock star, gyrating his hips, leaning into each note, letting the music move him. And you can hear the confidence in their music: LuxDeluxe never take themselves too seriously, and even on the least lighthearted of songs, the effortlessness with which they play levels them with the audience. They let you in on the joke: they’re just a group of guys (three of whom are cousins) trying to make music and have a good time.

You stream their new track, “Start of Something” below and grab tickets for the show at Middle East Upstairs on the 27th here for $10.