• Home /
• Search /
• Charts /
  • Overall
  • Rock
  • Pop
  • Punk
  • Metal
  • Alternative
  • Miscellaneous
• Videos /
• Add Artist / 
• Login / 
• Signup / 
• About / 

Best Kept Secrets 1996 - 2004  >>

Best Kept Secrets is a collection of the finer points from Lamb's career to date--an even smattering from their four albums--their self-titled debut, Fear of Fours, What Sound and 2003's Between Darkness & Wonder. Although geographically miles away, Lamb were an integral part of the Bristol sound with their music sitting somewhere between Portishead and Roni Size. "Cottonwool" opens the anthology, and rightly so--the brooding double bass, ethereal vocal and broken beats are a perfect intro to what they're all about.

Best Kept Secrets is in chronological order and highlights the slight changes in direction that occurred in each period. Tunes such as "B-line" and "Bonfire" are more rhythmic than their fractal predecessors yet dirty in comparison to the smooth, almost soulful "Stronger" and "Please" from their latter years. Although the album gets comfier and more worthy of the "chillout" tag as it progresses, it's clear that two things remain consistent throughout: Rhodes' vocals remain beautiful and Barlow's production always does enough to keep it left of centre. --David Trueman

Lamb  >>

"An appreciation of contradiction", as described within the sleeve notes of Lamb's eponymously titled debut album, acts as the first clue to content. Andy Barlow's competent production embraces the best elements of a number of genres, sounding full even in the more stripped down pieces while working with as opposed to crowding out Louise Rhodes' claustrophobic songwriting. The music itself makes for a fascinating hybrid. The dubbed analogues of "Trans Fatty Acid" grate against the complex beats and pensive lyrics of "Cotton Wool". Whereas the haunting vocals of "Feela," which absorb a simple piano movement with washes of reverbed feedback, kept in check by brooding strings. A chance encounter in a Manchester studio lead to a stunning debut...wintry vocals backed with all that is good about drum and bass. --Kingsley Marshall

What Sound  >>

Between Darkness And Wonder  >>

Springing from the trip-hop revolution, Lamb have proved themselves to be masters of their genre. With Between Darkness and Wonder, they consolidate earlier advances rather than invade new territories. Recorded in a farmhouse just outside Bath, their fourth album has singer Lou Robinson and techno-wizard Andy Barlow in fine form. Though the opening "Darkness" is a mess of burbles, scratches and disjointed synths, they quickly find their feet with the quiet clatter and beautifully blended vocals of "Stronger" and the smooth bass and swirling effects of "Sugar 5". Following the instrumental "Angelica", they introduce a deft folky guitar for the excellent and eventually storming augury of "Till the Clouds Clear", and this remains in place for the intimate, innocent "Wonder" and mildly rocking "Sun". Throughout, Barlow creates a series of blissful, sometimes turbulent backdrops for Robinson's sweet voice, cast somewhere between Beth Gibbons and Victoria Williams. In turn, she explores the minutiae of problematic relationships while remaining ever positive. The album suffers somewhat from the addition of three extra remixes, MJ Cole's take on "Gabriel" being inappropriately festive and clunky, while Nellee Hooper's version of the same track is tasteful but, naturally, reminiscent of Bjork. Between Darkness and Wonder could easily stand without them. --Dominic Wills

Fear Of Fours  >>

Three years elapsed between the release of Lamb's highly acclaimed debut and this CD, making fans of their moody trip-hop impatient. Does Fear of Fours deliver? Yes, but like many sophomore efforts, this one can't help but fall short of expectations. There is more of Lamb's full, emotional sound here, but while songs off the debut such as "Gorecki" and "Cottonwool" were beyond epic, most of the tracks on Fear of Fours merely get the job done. Where Louise Rhodes's vocals were near operatic, they are now more spoken wordish. And rather than complementing the lush orchestral instrumentation of partner Andy Barlow, the two more often collide. But there is beauty in chaos and nobody knows that better than Lamb. When Fear of Fours shines, it really shines. Take the drum & bass-influenced beat frenzy on "Ear Parcel" and the uplifting aria, "Fly". These alone are a testament to why so many fell for this Manchester duo in the first place. --Courtney Reimer