What started up as the solo project of Nils Martin Larsen has eventually evolved into a six-piece band, and as the debut album Guidebook To Lamaland was an introduction, this is the further path. As the first album was more experimental and electronic, this second album is more Post-rock.
Before saying anything more, I have to add that I’m a terribly impatient person. There are very few cases of instrumental or near instrumental music that capture me without making a big effort myself to like it. I suppose that’s some sort of weakness I have. Lama is among the cases where it took an effort for me.
Though a few of the songs are quite catchy and able to keep my attention, most of them drag out too long for me. “Wakeup Call”, which can be described as kind of a crossover between Lower than Lo-Fi, but Higher and Accidents Never Happen, is one of the really pleasant exceptions. There’s something about the sound of the guitar that really catches me, I think it’s the exact same reason why I love Lower than Lo-Fi, but Higher’s songs. The strumming patterns and the raw sound of the guitar just makes my ears feel so damn good. Combining that with a powerful soundscape similar to that of Accidents Never Happen, the song has me hypnotized. Sadly, with its minute and 42 seconds, it’s the shortest track on the album, yet I keep being pulled back to it and end up listening to that single track over and over again. It just overshadows the rest of the album and I keep wishing the whole album could sound similar to it. There are a few other gems shining through a bit though, like “Fighting” and “Came Through Stone To Get Here.”
Despite eveything I’ve said, I recommend you listen to Lama and make up your own opinion. If you’re not like me, you might very well love it, and even if you are like me, maybe if you give it a good chance, it’ll be rewarding. I know I’ll be listening more to the album for a while now, because despite me being bored by parts of the music, this really is well made. Maybe I’m just too much of a sucker for catchy tunes to appreciate it.
Lama – Wakeup Call
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