As Spotify seems intent on reminding me, ‘trippy turntablism’ strikes a chord in my listening history. So, Lamb’s eponymous debut album was always going to be a hit. Released in ’96, it slots neatly into the groove of trip hop’s heyday – coming soon after Portishead and Tricky’s first offering. But while the scene was born in Bristol, make no mistake, this was made in Manchester.

‘Gorecki’s’ the track that brought the northern duo critical acclaim, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find ‘Gold’ – a tune encompassing the chillout tropes of the genre while finding inspiration in both jazz and jungle.

Initially released as a single, ‘Gold’ has everything that defined Lamb’s distinctive late 90s sound – honest lyricism and haunting vocals, met with kickin’ breakbeats, the smoothest bassline, and experimentalist effect chains.

It opens with a plucky double bass melody that’s just as at home in a smoky jazz club as a Roni Size roller, before singer Lou Rhodes comes in. There’s a Bjork-like quality to her voice that makes lines like “icicles down my spine” all the more evocative.

But what about that drum and bass tinge that defines so much of the album? While more subtle here, it’s soon revealed as rolling snare patterns and jazzy percussion give way to a heavy, head bopping, shuffle of a beat, while reverse vinyl effects keep the trip hop feel alive.

Then there’s Graham Massey (better known for co-founding 808 State) on the vibraphone, lending the track mysterious undertones reminiscent of Massive Attack’s ‘Paradise Circus’. Suspense builds to a crashing climax when drums get sound engineer and Lamb’s other half, Andy Barlow's full distortion treatment – with an aggressive flanger sound taking the tune firmly into the realm of electronica.

After the storm, comes the calm, as ambient textures mimicking the breath and a delicate guitar pattern give the bridge section a more uplifting tone, mirrored in Rhode’s lyric: “life is light in everything about you… when you’re as one everything I touch is gold”.

As all the elements reignite, there’s enough soulful swing to make a Bond theme tune, with the vibraphone dancing around the beat, scatting vocals, and a vinyl crackle to wind things down.

Jungle nutta’, trip-hopper, or ‘chilled thursday morning turntablist’ (Spotify AI working overtime for that one), you’ll find elements that excite in Lamb’s Gold – an eclectic blend of the band’s mid 90’s influences, showcasing a complex yet infectious take on a genre that keeps on giving.

19.01.25