The Forthcoming ‘Cascade’ Concept Album From Lambhorn.
Lambhorn – Bristol, England, United Kingdom.
MF goes through phases. These phases are for the most part completely out of our control, for requests flow as they do and with that sentence comes the use of word “flow” which is perfect to describe the manner in which Bristol progressives Lambhorn make music.
Cascade has been a year in the making from original penning to recording, mixing and mastering in true Progressive Rock fashion. Although that said, it still hasn’t quite trumped the time it has taken for a new Tool album but we live in hope of that eventuality.
Cascade is easily applicable to Post-Rock aficionados as much as it is to those it is aimed at. With the first track and eponymous number of the release the subtle complexities and build-up to gritty distorted guitar work more inclined to Post-Hardcore is well worth the duration of the process. This is so much so in-fact that the serious conversation I was having was abruptly cut short as I exclaimed – ‘OOOOOOOOO that’s niceeeeee’.
Although a Prog-Rock record at the base of it all, the elements of the aforementioned Post-Hardcore and Post-Rock are more than grabbing my attention but it isn’t just that. The production, mixing and sheer sonic coherence are beautifully present. ‘Cascade’ hinted a heavier band and with ‘Without Waves’ this is expanded and “Prog-i-fied” (sic.) with the refrain at the half way point breaking this precision chaos.
Lambhorn also in some ways remind me of the weirdness of the band Battles but far more toned down, which is likely positive as Battles maybe intricate and beautiful but they are also very exhausting. Back to ‘Without Waves’ now. The track has guitars toned in a manner both in and out of the Prog spectrum which due to the nature of the genre, means they are in fact unequivocally in the spectrum, still with me?
‘Without Waves’ also teases pace before ‘The Great below’ follows the perfect filler-track in the form of ‘Sapphire Springs’ which sets in the ploys paradise.
The layered and slightly Math-Rock-tinge of ‘The Great Below’ is playful until it reaches the four-minute mark where by the change in this story is foreboding. You can feel the emotion in the music and this instrumental story unlike many in this vein I have heard, not only works but does so wholly.
‘Take in the album cover and song names, they all fit in as part of a kinda story of this dude who gets lost at sea and half way through the record finds paradise in the middle of the ocean (Sapphire Springs) and has to leave to fulfil his need of getting home. Weather he dies or not in this is endeavour is open to interpretation. The cover art could suggest life, or death…’ – Oliver Cocup, Drums.
The emotional reaction this track induces changes yet again for its latter stages. It does this in the same way that you find yourself flipping between stress, anger and confusion on to then the sudden realisation of hope of redemption. Again, I cannot stress how “pulled in” I feel through this stage of the album.
Enroute to the final track, the biggest compliment I can give to this band is the way their Prog-Rock is worthy of such a title but still isn’t overt or simply trying to lather itself in self-gratuitous complexity for the sake of complexities sake.
‘Deeper’ is somewhat ambiguous in its depiction of the fate of the mysterious “dude” but with its calming tone, it suggests he has found some semblance of peace either through life or death. The – to be blunt- dreamy guitar work is as ear-wormy as it can be and quite frankly soars over the stripped back and dulcet layers set beneath in an almost euphoric manner, before the abrupt end that although sudden does make both compositional and contextual sense.
Cascade will be released on the 14th July 2017.
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