Louise Rhodes and Andy Barlow of Lamb have found a wondrous harmony, both in their musical production and the lyrics that Ms. Rhodes executes with precise and powerful emotion. This might sound like the quintessential formula that has shone through in their past efforts – Lamb, Fear of Fours, and What Sound – yet their new album, Between Darkness and Wonder has progressed even further beyond.

Louise and Andy have finally struck a perfect balance. That is not to say that their previous works had no balance. However, this new masterwork sees their two minds collide with ease. The beautiful electronic fields at the hands of Andy Barlow have found their perfect place under the sometimes painful, sometimes uplifting words of Louise Rhodes. While each track still utters breaths of unique sounds, textures and emotions, each interconnect to create what simply is one breathtaking journey through Lamb, and the depths between darkness and wonder.

In their recent interview with ITM, Louise stated that the pair rented a farmhouse in the countryside whilst writing the album labeling the time as: “a very carefree existence” and “a very pleasurable experience.” And, believe it or not, you can hear it. You can envision walking through bare and green grasslands, the sun setting and the air fresh but silent: one of those moments where you’re torn between loneliness and complete inner peace. In fact it is that feeling that sums up the aura of this album. Right from the beginning…

The strings of Darkness have a tendency to push through your entire body, as the words of Louise dangle mid-air waiting for someone to grasp them: I never knew darkness until now. Placid percussion tinges the underbelly. And its brooding mood lingers for the entire album. The littering of electronic kicks, softly painted piano melodies and the tremulous voices patter through the varying styles and mood. The hymn-like structures of Stronger bleed into the trip-hop bass inflicted airiness of Sugar 5.

Sweepingly, Angelica connects, and what can one say about this track? Think back to Gabriel gave you when you first heard it, then subtract the lyrics and add the lulling deep seated sounds of piano harmonies and melodies that morph with the twangs of burning electrical wire and fluttering sounds, then and only then will you be close to the feeling of this track. With this beauty comes the self-reflective moments that come hand in hand with any lamb production, and Till the clouds clear is probably the track most responsible for that self-reflection as Louise speaks softly of the clouds brewing inside: “you’re going to take the hold world with you when you go.”

Emotionally, through sound, there are so many crevices in this album. Pensive moments such as Wonder, which just isn’t wonder without the beautiful composure of strings and harp that soothingly sting, Learn, and Open Up. Frolicking moments, in open fields, armed with a Spanish sounding guitar and an upbeat tempo such as with Sun. And, the painful pleading moments such as with Please. Then, as if to round off the journey, or return to the place where you started, subtle chords, and those dark brooding sometimes consonant, sometimes dissonant amalgamation of strings resurface for Hearts and Flowers.

It is an amazing album. One that occasionally makes you hold your breath unsuspectingly simply because of the range of emotions that Lamb have captured in this forty-five minute field trip. When you create an album as good as ‘What Sound’ it is often difficult for artists to follow up, and better still, progress beyond. Yet Lamb have proven, with each consecutive strike, that they are ingenious in their approach to music.