Lamb: Louise Rhodes (vocals); Andrew Barlow. Additional personnel: Jimi Goodwin (guitar); Graham Clarke (violin); Ben Park (baritone saxophone); Kevin Davy (trumpet); Alice Kinloch (trombone, sousaphone); David Clack (horns); Mikey Wilson (drums); Crispin "Spry" Robinson (percussion). The Chainsaw Strings: Neil Catchpole (violin, viola); Niroshini Thambar, Ann Wood, Alison Dods, Matthew Ward (violin); John Rayson, Helen Kamminga (viola); Katheryn Locke, Tanera Dawkins, Cathy Rimer (cello); Jon Thorne, Alan Gibson (acoustic bass). Recorded at The Toyshop, Manchester, and the Townhouse, London, England. Dismissed in some quarters as a mere addition to the line of Portishead copyists, Lamb's eponymous debut album forced a swift reappraisal. Released three years later, and amidst high expectations, FEAR OF FOURS may not match that masterpiece, but Louise Rhodes and Andy Barlow continue to pursue a unique mix of jazz and drum-and-bass, strings and beats to scintillating effect. As a statement of intent, "Ear Parcel" epitomises the Lamb ethos, where tinkerbell chimes, a meandering double bass and percussive patter spar with brass squalls and increasingly bruising techno beats in an eight-minute bout. All that it lacks is Rhodes' voice, which moves closer to Billie Holiday than on previous outings, especially on the wonderfully manic "B-Line." Though not as stellar as its predecessor, FEAR OF FOURS is still a classy affair, not least on the heart-stopping, string-drenched "Bonfire." Both "Soft Mistake" and "Five" are atmospheric instrumentals of rare quality. Most startling of all is "Fly"; its clattering drum loop ricochets into an euphoric chorus and a plunging bassline for arguably the finest five minutes of 1999.
Disc 1: Soft Mistake Little Things B Line (Untitled) - (Hidden Track) All In Your Hands Less Than Two Bonfire Ear Parcel Softly Here Fly Dreams (Out Of Reach) Five Lullaby