Bridgewater Hall, May 4.
Following universal acclaim for 2000's Nixon album, Nashville based 14 piece Lambchop looked to have broken away from the constant, but quiet acclaim of peers and press within the alt-country field, and moved into the realms of wider appreciation. However, lukewarm reviews for this year's Is A Woman album have not sustained this growth in interest. Listening to the album, these reactions are understandable.
With its unabashed '70s soul influence, gospel choir and sweeping orchestrations, Nixon was instantly rewarding, accessible and every bit the 'crossover' Lambchop album. To newer converts, Is A Woman is in contrast a much starker, stripped down listen. The simple language of band leader Kurt Wagner's observational, intellectual and oblique lyrics are more striking against the simpler back drop of acoustic guitars, bass and heavily relied upon piano. The intimacy some longstanding fans felt had been swamped on Nixon is highly evident here on an album that owes much more to the Lambchop of years gone by.
Witnessing them at The Apollo last year was most enjoyable. My giddy friends, who were more excited by support act Zero 7, left after two songs, unable to get to grips with Wagner's falsetto, the quiet volume and relaxed pace. "They were good," one commented later, "but it's just not Friday night music".
Perhaps Lambchop will never be able to soundtrack everybody's Friday night. That's OK, they're not trying too. If you can bask in their gentle and engrossing melodies as the deftly crafted songs slowly unfold, if you're able to marvel at the uncommonly elegant refrain of this highly complimentary and extensive ensemble, then go. If you prefer your music with a bit more immediacy, this isn't for you.