Live Report And Gallery: Lamb in Sofia

During my teen years, UK duo Lamb became a great part in my introduction to not only trip-hop but electronic music as a whole. So, naturally, when I found out I'd have to chance to see them live, promoting their new album, I was excited and a bit worried. Worried that my memories of this significant musical presence in my adolescence might turn out to be overly idealized by nostalgia.

That concern vanished as soon as they stepped on the stage of studio Orpheus at 10:30 pm last Sunday. The connection was immediate - with the first few tremoring seconds of "In Binary" the whole place was transformed into a  transcendental spaceship, navigated by the three people on stage: a magnificent goddess with celestial voice, master of electronics with infectiously energetic presence, and a composed bass guru. Right beside the two official members of Lamb was Jon Thorne - bass virtuoso and a brilliant addition to the outfit since around 1997.

Lamb's gig in Sofia, Bulgaria was part of a tour to promote their 6th album -  Backspace Unwind. An album that has been, by their own words, a journey of discovery, but also a reinvention of recognizable sentiments, themes, and ideas with a fresh perspective. Some of the classic Lamb tunes were also reinvented on stage, with the help of snare drums and the voices of a hall full of people singing along.

Each component of the gig was pure excellence : from the quality of sound to the amazing light work - everything was executed perfectly and fit the atmosphere just right. But the performance of the band itself was the really outstanding part. Andy Bralow's powerful sound and Lou Rhodes's mighty vocals made them one of the best acts I've seen live. Electrifying stage presence, professionalism and honesty elevated the Lamb concert from a simple show to a form of a collective experience between artists and audience. Check out the amazing experience, captured by Stereofox's Stefan:

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