Where am I? Because right now it feels like I’m in Egypt, surrounded by red sand, pyramids in the background, palm trees – are there palm trees near the pyramids? Doesn’t matter. They pepper the landscape. The song I’m hearing continues to move and now I’m in the center of some crystal ball, purple and maroon sofas on some invisible floor. La Luz’s “Easy Baby” has me drifting in a wonderful daydream.

From the opening of their new EP, Damp Face, lead-singer Shana Cleveland finds her listener. “Call me in the day,” she sings, “Before the sun goes down.” Now I am holding a rotary telephone dialing a number I never knew until now. Or, better yet, I am in a field with spotted white flowers, wind I can see like kite ribbons and I am shouting out to this wonderfully mysterious voice. Just then an imploring guitar strikes and pulls me to the Pacific Ocean.

Damp Face is twistingly uplifting. It is intelligent and unassuming. It harkens to everywhere good. The band, comprised of Cleveland on guitar, Marian Li Pino on drums, Abbey Blackwell on bass and Katie Jacobson on keyboard, slinks. Also, “everyone sings,” assures the band’s web page. From the Dick Dale-surfer tone on the all-instrumental title track, to the quick-footed and dancey “Sure as Spring”, the entire album makes you feel as if you’re gripping some old map able to find any place and any era.

La Luz’s next show is Jan. 24 at The Columbia City Theater and they play KEXP’s Audioasis March 9^th.