Lamb
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
The groups calling card, the Cotton Wool single, already showed field-leaders such as Gerald Simpson and Fila Brazillia were on their side (each contributed a remix). But if anything it was the untouched title track that illustrated Lambs commitment to keeping the music interesting (the track rows along on a thick double-bass sample and absolutely brutalizing drum sequences) while filling it out with a big dose of tunefulness. An additional single (Gold) followed, with Lambs self-titled debut released in the fall of 1996 to widespread acclaim. Like the previous singles, much of Lamb explores song-oriented deployments of jungle, but the album also adds elements of downtempo and ambient-ish electro-jazz as well. Rhodes went on to lend her vocals to Sheffield legends 808 States Don Solaris LP (on the track Azura), and the success of Lambs debut also brought a fair amount of remix work their way. The pair also added touring to their repertoire (Lambs release was followed by a European tour with labelmates Galliano), combining their electronics-heavy productions with live instrumentalists. Second album Fear of Fours appeared in 1999, and consolidated the bands appeal with forward-thinking electronica listeners. Another inventive record, What Sound, landed in 2001, although American audiences were forced to wait two years to hear it in a quietly released version on Koch. Between Darkness and Wonder followed in 2003, and one year later Barlow helmed a volume in the chillout mixtape series Back to Mine.
