L.A.B. II explained

L.A.B. II
Type:	studio
Artist:	L.A.B.
Cover:	L.A.B. II cover art.jpg
Length:	54:06
Label:	Loop Recordings
Producer:	Brad Kora
Prev Title:	L.A.B.
Prev Year:	2017
Next Title:	L.A.B. III
Next Year:	2019

L.A.B. II is the second studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2018.

Production

The album was recorded at the Surgery Studios in Wellington, New Zealand, the home studio of Dr Lee Prebble, in the year since the release of their debut album L.A.B. in November 2017. The band lived full-time at Surgery Studios while writing and recording the album.

Release and promotion

The album was announced on 7 December 2018, alongside the release of the album's first single "Midnight Summer".^[1] The album's second single, "Free Fall in a Dream", was released the following week on 14 December.^{[2] [3]} L.A.B. toured New Zealand between December 2018 and March 2019, performing at events including Rhythm & Vines, Soundsplash Festival and One Love Festival. In May 2019, the album's final single "Baby Will You Let Me" was released, accompanied by a music video directed by Shae Sterling.^[4]

In 2020, the album track "Rocketship" began charting in New Zealand,^[5] and was certified platinum later that year.^[6]

Critical reception

Due to the release of L.A.B. II, the band were nominated for two awards at the 2019 New Zealand Music Awards: Best Roots Artist and Best Group.^[7]

Credits and personnel

• A. Adams-Tamatea – arrangement (10–11), backing vocals (12), bass (1, 5, 7–12), moog bass synthesiser (2–4, 6), songwriting (10–11)
• Miharo Gregory – backing vocals (7), clavinet (10), piano (1)
• Lucien Johnson – saxophone (10)
• B. Kora – acoustic drums (4), arrangement (1, 4, 8, 10–11), backing vocals (2, 7, 12), drum programming (3–4, 6), drums (1–2, 5, 7–12), lyrics (1–3, 5–12), percussion (5), producer, songwriting (1–2, 4–7, 9–12), string arrangement (3)
• Laughton Kora – backing vocals (9)
• S. Kora – arrangement (4, 8, 10–11), backing vocals (5, 12), keys (1, 4–5, 7, 9–10, 12), organ (5, 10), rhythm guitar (1–2, 5, 7, 10–11), songwriting (4, 10–11), synthesiser (2–3, 6, 9, 12)
• L.A.B. – arrangement (2–3, 5–7, 9, 12), songwriting (3)
• Barrett Mocking – trumpet (10)
• Dr Lee Prebble – co-producer
• J. Shadbolt – acoustic guitar (3, 8), arrangement (4, 8), electric guitar (8), lead guitar (1, 5, 7, 10, 12), lead vocals (2–3, 6–12), lead vocoder (2), lyrics (2, 4), rhythm guitar (6, 9), songwriting (4, 7–8), vocals (1, 5)
• Lisa Tomlins – backing vocals (10)

Charts

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for L.A.B. II!Chart (2020)!Position

New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[8]	39
Chart (2021)	Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[9]	41

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
New Zealand	21 December 2018		Loop Recordings	^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: L.A.B. Return With New Album Out December 21 . muzic.net.nz . 7 December 2018 . 7 January 2023.
2. Web site: Free Fall in a Dream . Spotify . 7 January 2023.
3. Web site: Live session: L.A.B. perform songs from their new album . 11 December 2018 . . 7 January 2023.
4. Web site: L.A.B. Drop Video for Baby Will You Let Me . 23 May 2019 . Loop . 7 January 2023.
5. Web site: Top 20 NZ Singles. Recorded Music NZ. 13 July 2020. 8 December 2020.
6. Web site: Top 20 NZ Singles. Recorded Music NZ. 2 November 2020. 2 April 2022.
7. Web site: L.A.B.: Three.Strikes – You're.In. . Felicity . Farrell . NZ Musician . 2020 . 7 January 2023.
8. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 2020. Recorded Music NZ. 7 December 2020.
9. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 2021. Recorded Music NZ. 24 January 2022. 24 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124051930/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=5267. live.
10. Web site: L.A.B. II - The New Album Out Now . muzic.net.nz . 21 December 2018 . 7 January 2023.