Lamb
Fear Of Fours

THE REVIEW

For my 33rd birthday, I received as a gift from a dear friend the second work of Lamb, which I was unfamiliar with at the time. Trusting her and her musical tastes - almost identical to mine - I started listening with complete curiosity.
I remember my first question was "what on earth is this??!", yes, because Lamb is not easily categorizable or assimilable into ONE genre, and this reflection is particularly true for this CD, which is rich with various types of influences and inspirations.

Let's start with the title: with this CD, Lamb lets us know they have overcome the "fear of the 4/4 time signature" and they prove it with a blend of syncopated rhythm melodies, supported by a pure form of electronic music that is at times vaguely jazzy, if not simply pop or even drum 'n' bass, not to mention the classical contamination evoked by a rich use of strings.
Said like this, it seems like a jumble of styles and sounds that don't communicate with each other, but the picture that emerges is harmonious and perfectly balanced, with each episode being self-contained while also part of the whole.

Thus, we find electronic gems in the intro Soft Mistake, or in Five, unleashed drum 'n' bass rhythms in Little Things, hypnotic episodes as in the repetitive B-line (the first single), actual songs like All In Your Hands, sweet lullabies like Less Than Two, film-like scores like Bonfire, or graceful ones like Softly, all the way to the luminous conclusion that takes us from the sci-fi atmosphere of Five to the darker and more tormented one of Lullaby, where Louise's voice, both hoarse and ethereal, gently caresses us while behind her, the haunting notes of a cello unfold. Thus, among synths, strings, and double bass, Louise concludes by telling us "Always and forever we'll be free".
And I swear, folks, more than once a tear has formed in my eye.

PS: now I have all their CDs, but this 2nd one is something unique.