Five in Eleven for Lamb

Lamb: Lou & Andy

It's been 8 years since Manchester's (UK) Lamb have released a record. They are currently slated for a May 5^th release, aptly titled “5” (this being their fifth album)...though they are already taking preorders for the special edition of the album on CD and vinyl, and are already selling tickets to the launch party performance at the Manchester Cathedral. Why preorder so soon?  Lamb are recording in Andy Barlow's home studio and releasing the record on their own; it's all being funded by fan preorders. To see what you're getting yourself into you can listen to mixes of two new songs on their myspace page: Strong The Root, and She Walks. Part of me hopes that these are both in fact alternate mixes, and Lamb have not yet revealed the true sound of the record.  Still, it is so very lovely to hear Lou's distinctive and luscious voice over Andy's particular blend of sometimes trance-y electronica once again. There is a lot going on in the world of Lamb right now and that is very exciting for us hopeless fanboys that thought they'd never hear new Lamb songs or have a chance to see them perform live again (they did reunite for string of shows in 2009).  In an interview with The Backstage Rider, Lou describes the intent behind the new record as a "...return to the feeling and ethos of the first album. As I said earlier, the rollercoaster ride of our journey...had led us away from the essence of what Lamb was meant to be. The first album had a freshness and purity that was lost along the way and it also had a raw, grittiness that came from a very simplistic way of working. So with this new album we’ve been re-exploring that sense of freshness and rawness and I think people will hear Lamb through and through but with a few surprises all the same." (Lou Rhodes) Go read the whole interview here.

She Walks:

Some related side-notes...
Andy Barlow is also releasing his own record under the name LOWB on February 28^th, called Leap And The Net Will Appear...and yes you can preorder that too. Andy has several tracks available on his LOWB website as a preview for potential buyers. If you enjoy the music behind Lamb I'd highly recommend checking out Andy's solo pieces; while still recognizable as the electronic backbone of Lamb, his solo work is clearly written with a different intention. Where one would expect to hear Lou, we hear adventurous synth melodies or a guest vocalist. The structure of his songs, each now no longer necessarily accommodating vocals, are a bit more free to roam wherever and however they happen. The similarities to his work in Lamb will surely keep us satisfied until May, when we get to indulge in something we haven't heard in years...an entire album of new Lamb material.

During Lamb's hiatus Lou Rhodes had released three of her own stripped-down, folky records. All three have been astonishingly beautiful.  The first, Beloved One, remains my personal favorite.  It seemingly maintains a perfect balance of professional production without sacrificing each song's straightforward and simple nature.  Although various accompaniment appears throughout the record it never detracts from the core: Lou's guitar and ambrosial voice.  Bloom, Lou's follow-up to Beloved One, is her most production-heavy offering.  Like Beloved One the songs are again very strong - especially lyrically - but this time the additional musicians, instruments, and effects cause the songs to feel much more polished and engineered. While this is a departure from the groundwork of her first solo record, it really isn't a bad thing.  In fact the change of pace is quite nice - Lou didn't step into the studio and just crank out another 'Beloved One'.  A great example, and perhaps the highlight of the album for me, is They Say. Starting out with the basics of just a few sad notes from her acoustic guitar, the song's mood becomes more eerie and brooding as additional musicians join the fray.  Eventually they reach the climax, a storm of dissonance and emotion peaked by Lou's vocal lamentations.  Here's a great live version:

Lou's latest, One Good Thing, is her most raw and simple record; in many ways it is a reaction to Bloom. It was recorded 'live' in Andy's studio in just a few weeks.  Production was kept to a minimum, though at times the reverb, either electronically employed or natural, is just a tad much; once noticed my ear had a hard time letting it fall naturally in the mix. One Good Thing feels so much more intimate than even Beloved One. There is no filter between the listener and the creator; what Lou has written for herself she shares directly with all of us in an open and fearless expression, straight from her heart. Lyrically, Lou is always Lou; the words of her solo albums are a natural progression from that of Lamb, and as always unmistakably honest and full of love. These are Lou's truths which reflect a stillness of being; listening to her records is meditation.

I can't wait to hear 5 and catch Lamb on tour!  So "Remember, remember the fifth of..."...uh...May.