Lamb
February 18th, 2009 by sparky
Lamb will perform at The Big Chill 2009.
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Lamb - Biography
Lamb’s core members were Barlow and Rhodes, although the band subsequently expanded to include bassist Jon Thorne, Icelandic guitarist Oddur Mar Runnarson, and Danish drummer Nikolaj Bjerre. London-based string trio Chi 2 Strings and trumpet player Kevin Davy were frequent guest musicians.
They released their first album, the self-titled Lamb in September 1996, and followed this up with another three albums and a cache of singles over the next eight years, culminating in the release of a greatest hits album, “Best Kept Secrets“, in June 2004. Lamb performed what was billed as their final live appearance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam in September 2004. This performance was filmed for a planned live DVD release; its release was expected in 2005, but as of March 2007 it has not appeared. The release has now been planned for early 2008. While the band members have not ruled out the return of Lamb at some point in the future, both have been working on a variety of solo projects. Rhodes released her debut solo album “Beloved One” on her own label Infinite Bloom in 2006, while Barlow has been working on a project called Hoof (together with Oddur Runasson, among others, who also appeared on Rhodes’ solo debut), which has performed live a number of times but so far not released an album. Barlow has also been working on another project called “Luna Seeds” with vocalist/songwriter Carrie Tree, and has recently produced the Fink album “Distance and Time”.
Although getting their start in Manchester, Lamb are more commonly associated with the Bristol-based trip hop sound that was popular during the nineties. Aside from trip hop, their musical style is a distinctive mixture of jazz, dub, breaks and drum and bass, with a strong vocal element and, in their later works especially, some acoustic influences. While they were a hit phenomenon in the UK, they found limited success in other parts of the world, despite securing distribution. Portugal was an exception, however; the band achieved crossover success in the country, including one major number one hit with “Gabriel,” the lead single from 2001’s What Sound.
The band are known for the experimental work they produce, a distinctive production style, Lou’s passionate lyrical style, and their artistic videos, which draw on influences ranging from Cyberpunk through George Lucas‘ THX 1138 to Zen Buddhism. The 2004 DVD The Fall & Rise of the Fools Ark, a roadmovie by Dutch duo Dadara and Jesse for which Lamb and the Hipoptimist provided the music, is an animated roadmovie in the style of Monty Python and Yellow Submarine.
By far, their best-known track to date is “Gorecki“, from their eponymous debut album. The song is inspired by Henryk Górecki’s Third Symphony, the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. Part of the lyrics to Gorecki were used by Baz Luhrmann for some of Satine’s lines in Moulin Rouge!, and the track is rumoured to have been covered by Nicole Kidman. It has also been used in an advertisement for Guinness as well as an advertisement for the Tomb Raider: Underworld video game.
Lamb will perform at The Big Chill 2009.
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March 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Saw Lamb at Glasto 2002, which was a very special gig. The gig was in the hippy tent there in the green fields and was very emotional. They were not supposed to be there as they were there the year before, so thats why they had such a small tent.
Turn’s out 1000’s turned up, filling the tent and outside. The band got emotional due to such a positive response and so did the crowd. Due to the number of people that could not see them and a cancellation on the Jazz stage, they appeared again on stage (sadly this was unannounced and I did not know) to much the same response.
Fantastic band - looking forward to this one. Lets hope it does not conflict with Orbital
March 9th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
WOW!! I’m a brazilia fan of lamb!! Is really good to have the chance to see low and andy playing togheter again!!
March 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Glasto 2002 was a wonderful, wonderful gig. Huge crowd. Tiny tent.
The 5 peeps who were not huge fans bought a number of albums over the following weeks.
(And I also missed the Jazz set).
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
lamb glasto 2002 do you remember barlow jumping excitedly up and down the amps and speakers. Their accoustic set next day perfect hang over cure. Can’t wait for big chill gig
April 7th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I too saw them at glasto in 02, and it was so emotional, these guys had so much energy which was infectious and spread through everyone like wildfire, thousands of people crammed into a tiny area between swings and stalls all focussed on Lamb, they are truly a band not to miss, I am coming to glade this year just for this.
Probably one of the biggest comebacks of the year……
April 20th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Lamb are the single reason I’m going to Big Chill this year - originally I was going to glade, and there are few bands who could tempt me away, but with Lamb there’s absolutely no contest.
I was at the Paradiso gig in 2004. Absolutely awesome. I am really looking forward to going bonkers bass-side!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
One of my favourite bands and I own all-but one albums… mucho excitement about seeing them as I didn’t think I’d get to.. only got into Lamb after they’d split so thanks for playing the Chill this year. In fact the only band am remotely interested in seeing sadly enough. I’ll be down the front, shaking my thang lots
May 7th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Oh my lord we are so excited about this! Got tickets purely so we could see lamb so Orbital too is a massive bonus. only 91 sleeps how are we going to last til then?
Saw lamb for the first time at Phoenix and the last time at Glasto.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:59 am
My god, thought they’d split up a couple of years ago. Sooooooooooo looking forward to BigChill now.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:57 am
LAMB at The Big Chill!! This is the most exciting news I have heard since I saw Lou in a little intimate bar in Brisbane, Australia, 2006/07? They have been split for too long and are the reason my girlfriend and I got together and we now have a baby who listens to them!. We would like to know if we can bring a 5 month old to the Big Chill. Has anyone taken their bub to the festival and how do we find when Lamb will appear on stage? This is so cool. Did anyone see them in Brixton 03?? F$*king amazing!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Am so so very excited! saw lamb were performing and that was it me and my boyfriend are gettin tickets straight away. this will be my first festival aswell so lets hope its a gooden. im only 19 and was a typical 90’s child but was listening to lamb while everyone else was listenin to things like steps. so u could say im a lamb child aha. so so excited!!!
June 28th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
..does anyone know when lamb will actually be performing? i’m not sure i can make the whole weekend.
J8-)
June 29th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Lamb are playing on Saturday.