Music duo Lamb has been influencing electronic scene with their trip-hop and chill-out discography. As half of Lamb, Lou Rhodes took a completely different trajectory with her solo work. She decided to create a dreamy folk acoustic music that critics call a pastoral folk, particularly referring to her latest album theyesandeye.
Lou writes emotionally rich songs dedicated to nature, Earth, elements, love and human relationships. On theyesandeye, it’s as almost as If she has tried to catch those who have damaged the Earth in such a detrimental way that Earth would speak about it only If it could.
Folk is sensitive and perceptive genre, so it comes as no surprise that Lou is highly aware of her environment. She sings about it without reluctance, but is never hostile. She keeps a healthy distance. She keeps it mellow. Acoustic guitar and violin are the instruments that support this release alongside the beatific vocal. Lou sounds like a mythological creature, and the album is her fairytale about the dynamic between the human and the nature.
It is difficult to find a flaw since the record is structured in a way that nothing stands out of the concept. It works as a whole. From the opening number All The Birds (that is the biggest hit so far) til the very last Magic Ride, Lou is avid to take us through the landscapes that we don’t pay enough attention to. These landscapes are always there, we just need to remind ourselves to the beauty we are surrounded with.
Lou avoids self-pity and forlorn. She sings from a mature place of heart, with full confidence and sagacity. Circle Song and Sea Organ are the most eco-conscious songs on the album, but there are also some personal moments. Sun and Moon and Them are few of those.
Cover of The xx’s Angels balances between the original and the improvisation, showcasing that Lou is a multifaceted artist. Theyesandeye is a gorgeous collection, a divine pastoral folk story about the relations towards ourselves and towards nature. Lou Rhodes is one of the nicest vocals on the scene and this album is her ticket to the forest of out hearts.
