Benjamin Lanz has played in several bands you might know, including the National and Beirut, but the solo debut of his new project LANZ is just as compelling as his other acts. "Karla’s Retreat," from his upcoming album Hoferlanz I, is a driving and forceful track, laden with melodic hooks from piano, guitar and an unexpected brass section, and the song is helped along by a powerful, yet tasteful rhythm section. The instrumental breaks are some of the most confident we’ve heard this year, but their impact is deepened by Lanz’s self-assured vocals, which also keep "Karla’s Retreat" structurally sound. All this is supported by a charming video depicting Lanz in a slightly ominous, cabin-y studio, and outdoor scenes of potentially creepy houses. It’s shot on film, which you might’ve guessed. "Karla’s Retreat" is defiantly indie, but perhaps the most captivating thing about this song in a sometimes uncertain genre is that LANZ’s feet are planted firmly on the ground. Hoferlanz I was released on August 25th on Brasslands Records, and will also be released as a cassette for Cassette Store Day. –Geena Kloeppel