How strange to hear an album with such magnitude and at the same time, such a sense of patience. I honestly believe that at this point it’s really strange to listen to a post-rock album and get surprised when there is a huge, epic section.. The Quiet Lamb is so reserved and yielded in the way it plays out; So when “Candor and River” gets real fucking dangerous, it’s shocking. The record up to this point is almost like a novel; it’s unique dynamic allowing time and space to take over as it lazily interweaves beautiful storytelling. There is an sense of a morose, inescapable, landscape that is washed over the tone of each of the songs; and while it’s strange to relate an album to a color, I will say that The Quiet Lamb makes me think of a bleak gray or pale white. While the record may harness the premise of doom, that’s not to say that the record is without beauty, far from it. Stunning violins, banjos, pianos layer over tracks like “Giant Moss” and “Long Grass.” It’s softer, more striped down and traditional folk tracks like “Homecoming” are flawless and gorgeous. Throughout, the vocal element is used sparingly and to perfection; oftentimes, simply another texture. The singing is so ominous and beautiful, that it’s almost a shame there isn’t more of it. When playing it in the office, someone curiously asked if i was listening to “Ave Maria.” While completely off base in his assumption, the beauty in The Quiet Lamb is evident in his query; vocally speaking, the album is nothing short of a classic composition. However, when it comes down to it The Quiet Lamb is more of a folk record than anything, but it pulls off so much more than a traditional release in that genre. The record is sprawling and inquisitive, it’s so haunting and delicate, all the while maintaining it’s folk roots. It’s worldly vibe brings to mind a world uninhabited by humans, a world where nature is plentiful and once again, the true and rightful ruler of the earth. It’s in this that the record is a true folk album at heart, an album laced with reverence for the planet. If more post-rock bands put as much love and innovation into their records, the genre wouldn’t get the bad rep it’s sometimes dealt. Her Name is Calla have created a record so far from all the Godspeed You Mogwais in the Sky bands and is nothing short of a masterpiece. The Quiet Lamb is undoubtedly this years best release in the genre, and should be seen as a staple and a lesson to all post-rock musicians, that you don’t have to be huge to be huge.
Her Name is Calla
‘The Quiet Lamb’ is a soundtrack to your thoughts, inducing you into its intense, artistic depths … A raw, emotional exploration of the soul.
The Quiet Lamb is a sinister, majestic record that soars with a harrowing originality to subvert and progress the standard post-rock formula.
The Quiet Lamb is rich, dreamlike, unrestricted, successfully ambitious, and above all, epic.
From quiet spaces to dark places, The Quiet Lamb is cinematic in scope, and veers from storm-crashing guitar down to sparse, dusty piano motes. It is a challenging yet uplifting journey from a seasoned group of talented musicians, and will reward listeners with its multifaceted sonic hues.
An epic statement of intent … There’s little to criticise about the diligent attention to detail and precision that went into such a complex creative structure. 8/10
A Review of Reviews
Some reviews use such beautiful imagery, that I’m hugely flattered that people could spare the time to write such wonderful prose - as well as listening to a rather long album! We’ve spoken before about how we recorded this album whilst working one or two full-time jobs each, and looking after children and each other - but it’s worth remembering that music critics are just as busy creatures, too!
We’ve had so many of these beautifully written reviews, and I’m very thankful for each and every one. Sometimes I wish I could post the whole thing, but I hope our readers are clicking on the links to see the rest of the reviews - I promise, the writing is gorgeous.
We had a jaw-dropping essay written about us for the Czech magazine, Full Moon, which I will post soon, but one that has just this minute been published is by Richard Foster, from Incendiary Magazine. I don’t mean to single out any one review more than another, but because I know I often post a little quotation from the reviews that we get, I thought I’d take this chance to show you an example of how descriptive these reviews are:
After Condor…, the record starts to really kick in, as things take a more trippy, flexible and crystalline turn. The Long Grass and Homecoming are trippy takes on the ‘70s folk troubadourisms of Jansch, Denny et al, whilst Thief is a beautiful funeral march, conjuring up Lady of the Lake imagery, Waterhouse style.
The Union is the show stopper, a three part that is vicious and intensely colourful by turns. The guitar parts in this are the key; razor sharp, powerful and happy to destroy everything that went before in an all-consuming db fire. The opening part - I Worship A Golden Sun -is a high incantation that is heavy on the Amon Düül vibes whilst the second - Recidivist -travels deep into the mountain mists and comes out wild eyed and loony. The thumping guitar half way through is almost cataclysmic in its finality. It’s a heady ride. Finally, Into The West gallops off exactly as the title suggests it should (care of some wailing and trumpets).
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who is taking the time to listen to our record, it is very much appreciated. For all the many reviews which have been like reading poetry - thank you thank you thank you.
Sophie
Many just label them post-rock, which seems to have become a lazy blanket term for any music that deviates from the traditional rock song structure. […]
Atmospherically and vocally, the band has something in common with bands like Radiohead. There’s an unsettling sense to their music, something melancholic, affecting, but ultimately satisfying. The scope of Her Name is Calla’s ambition and inventiveness is impressive, but it would be nothing without the tunes to back it up. Luckily, ‘The Quiet Lamb’ has that.
Atmospherically and vocally, the band has something in common with bands like Radiohead. There’s an unsettling sense to their music, something melancholic, affecting, but ultimately satisfying. The scope of Her Name is Calla’s ambition and inventiveness is impressive, but it would be nothing without the tunes to back it up. Luckily, ‘The Quiet Lamb’ has that.
A dark fable… with an expressiveness haunted by ghosts. Pieces monumental in scope and emphasis, reminiscent of Twilight Sad or iLiKETRAiNS.
