★★★★★

LUMPs 2018 self-titled debut record was a surprise, to say the least. The collaborative project of acclaimed folk artist Laura Marling and lauded producer Mike Lindsay of TUNNG combined psychedelia, pop, alternative rock and ambient sounds to create something that felt otherworldly. Of course, the seven-foot colourful yeti who fronted much of the promotional material, album cover and music video appearances only added to the alien nature of it all.

The spontaneous pairing of the artists seemingly lit a creative fire within the pair, as they regrouped a couple of years back prior to lockdown for follow up ‘Animal’. Like the debut before it, the record is a completely different style to both Marling and Lindsay’s previous work, brimming with creative freedom the pair have noticeably experimented further than ever before on the record. Lindsay’s electric Synths shimmer throughout whilst Marling sounds at her most profound.  

We spoke to the pair a few months back in which they described rhythms inspired by Lindsay’s new location of the sea, Marling writing to the unusual time signatures that created. This innovative way of creating the record can be heard almost instantly as synths wash over your ears like waves on the opening moments of the first track ‘Bloom At Night’, by the time the synths start to fade into a gentle swash, Marling’s delicate vocals rise into the foreground, light and feathery as she speaks of religion, lust and insanity.

Despite being created in such a free-flowing manner both lyrically and sonically, there’s an interesting natural cohesion on the project, like the aforementioned waves, tracks flow effortlessly into one another. Over the course of 10 tracks totalling 45 minutes the pair take you on a guided trip through the psychedelic world of LUMP, and in fitting with the cyclical nature of the record, by the time the last notes of progressive ambient credits closer ‘Phantom Limb’ rippled over me I was lost in the loop, desperate to playback through again, and again… and again.

Throughout each loop, there are many layers to uncover within each track, Marling’s subject matter and lyrics are fascinating and intense, unravelling upon each listen whilst Lindsay’s production provides every track with its own subtleties ‘Gamma Ray’ has a plodding funk to it, like a gentle sway whereas title track ‘Animal’ with its fast pace, almost glitchy in nature completely breaks out into a hallucinatory bridge signalled by Marling’s wobbling call out of ‘Animal’ before crashing back to earth. ‘Climb Every Wall’ meanwhile twinkles and grooves like a soul track.

The album’s midpoint is marked by the mournful and foreboding ‘Red Snakes’ which feels like the soundtrack to an interstellar science fiction scene with its deep piano notes that reverberate and hang in the air long after they’ve been pressed, it’s only fitting then that album highlight ‘Paradise’ follows, opening with twinkling synths reminiscent of UFO’s flying over the horizon. The track I found myself quickly noting down as a psychedelic, proggy, masterpiece as Marling’s voice begins to build into its own choir, before a euphoric and trippy bridge in the styling of Cornershop with its blend of traditional sounds and modern technology.

What I adore about the record most is the pairs ability to juxtapose inspired and unconventional ideas with an accessible and enticing sound. Marling’s voice throughout is soft, her lyrics and themes thought-provoking and fascinating, in part due to her studies of psychoanalysis whilst Lindsay’s unique method of production feel equal parts fresh, exciting and welcoming. No more so than on the Springsteen meets Beach Boy’s stylings of single ‘We Cannot Resist’. Whilst it’s the most traditional and ‘pop’ sounding of the bunch, it feels like a release of endorphins that have been slowly building throughout the record, it’s a pure slice of joy, like a big warm hug from the LUMP creature itself. 

Ultimately, ‘Animal’ is the showcase of two true creative forces firing on all cylinders, audibly inspired and passionate about the music they’re making. It’s with no hesitation I can already list it as one of the finest albums to be released this year and I can’t wait to see what direction Marling and Lindsay take the project in next and how the new record will translate to the stage.

You can catch LUMP on tour this autumn (yeti creature and all) at the following dates; Tickets are available from LUMPs site here.

Saturday 21st August - Green Man Festival - Brecon Beacons
Tuesday 31st August - Gorilla - Manchester
Thursday 2nd September - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds
Friday 3rd September - Trinity Centre - Bristol
Sunday 5th September - Patterns - Brighton
Monday 6th September - Scala - London

You can also read our cover interview with Marling and Lindsay about the creation of the album in our first ever print magazine issue of ‘Presents’ - available to purchase here.