Complex, Experimental, Unconventional
Accompanied by a new set of members, the famously obscure band Lambchop finally releases their newest album, Punching The Clown, after a four year hiatus. Within this addition to their discography, frontman Kurt Wagner experiments with various sounds that pull listeners into a soothing yet mystifying journey.
While listening to the album, it doesn’t take long before listeners realize the lyrics aren’t the focal point of the piece. Rather, the backing instrumentals are. Mainly accompanied by vocals and a banjo, Wagner and co. are able to create a transcendental experience that’s reminiscent of the typical country sound, yet still manages to stand out in its own way. Their opener, “Just West of Nicollet,” perfectly exemplifies this sentiment. The song begins with the quiet strumming of a banjo, then moves toward choir-like harmonies which put audiences in a soothing state that many country listeners are well acquainted with. However, in the midst of all the melancholy, the calm ambience is abruptly interrupted with a brash bellow that shocks listeners and makes them realize that they’re not listening to any old country album, they’re listening to a Lambchop original. This is exactly how the band wants audiences to feel; instead of delivering a typical commercial hit, they turn towards the experimental and bodacious that aids in highlighting the beauty behind human creativity.
The band’s bold style of music is one that calms the listener, but also leaves an unsettling feeling lingering in the air. No more can this be felt than in “A Doctor in the House,” which blends the band’s banjo with low groans, whispers and deep chants that create an eerie atmosphere. With such varying styles, the band makes sure listeners are never fully comfortable and always expecting the unexpected.
Although the instrumentals of the album are pivotal to the album’s greatness, the vocals also aid in elevating this piece and further entrancing audiences. The raw, stripped vocals of this project symbolize the raw emotions of the everyday man and the great power that lies behind the human voice and simple acoustics.
The experimental nature of the album may be a deterrent for some newer audiences, but the unapologetic courage to try new sounds should ultimately attract more listeners while keeping the attention of the old. Lambchop perfectly blends harmonic melodies and simple acoustics to create deep meaning that provides people with a new, unfamiliar sound and a profound understanding of the importance of the human voice.
