It has become somewhat of a cliché in music reviews to refer to an album as defying categorisation – I’ve even been guilty of it myself. Listening to The Quiet Lamb, I realise how quick I’ve been to use this convention in the past; the new album from Her Name Is Calla does not fit into any clear genre pigeonhole and may even be an early entry from a new generation of music. An album of contrasts, its closest relation would likely be post-rock, yet it refuses to be bound by the musical structure of that genre. Coming in at 76 minutes, The Quiet Lamb is an epic journey that transcends musical boundaries, and is both contemplative and exhilarating for its listeners.
Hailing from England, Her Name Is Calla is a five-piece band with a stunning array of multi-instrumentalist talent, playing everything from guitars to a theremin. In a recording process as complex as their music, the band take demos recorded on phones and added to Dropbox, and each contribute their own layers to the tracks. The songs gestate and grow over time, even up to two years, before being deemed ready. This slow and considered process adds to the album’s scale of grandeur.
The Quiet Lamb is a three-act opus of passion, underscored by the life experiences by the band’s front man and chief songwriter, Tom Morris. The first act takes the emotional turbulence of the dark times of an overdose and the impact on his family; the second shifts into a pensive air; and the third delivers a triptych of dark rage undercut with hope. Although this is not a concept album, the tracks and acts dovetail together perfectly, creating a dense tapestry of rich but thoughtful angst with excellent flow.
No sense in me lying to you
This is going to hurt me more than you
A wave of endorphins and a cold shoulder
And a mighty blow to the back of the skullWith the album’s epic length, it takes a few listens to really start to pick up the many nuances in the music, and it is an album of many flavours. For example, “Moss Giant” provides a Debussy-like opening to the first act; “Condor and River”, with a length 17 minutes, is the closest the album gets to true post-rock, unleashing an assault worthy of Godspeed You! Black Emperor before slipping into the lyrics and quieter melodies. There are also moments of the likes of folk and alt-rock making appearances throughout. This variety adds surprises, keeping the listener from being lulled into complacency; one could be listening to a mellow folk part when a horn section comes out of nowhere.
Full-Length Sample Track: “Pour More Oil”
The Quiet Lamb is one hell of an album. It gets the listener so involved in the music that one is loathe to step away, even for a minute. One could read this review and fear the album would be depressing, but this is not the case. The lyrics are so simple and the music complex, that it becomes more of a meditative piece – something to be reflected on. I think that everyone will find something different to focus on; for me, it’s a Celtic vibe around the sound that captivates.
Coming into this time of year, reviewers tend to start compiling their “Top 5 of the Year” lists, and I thought that I’d finished thinking about my finalists. However, after listening to The Quiet Lamb, it is clear that I’ve received a very strong contender for Album of the Year. This is an album that must be listened to.
The Quiet Lamb from Her Name Is Calla: released 12 October (Europe) and November 2010 (UK, US, and Japan) on Denovali Records.
