A SKY THROUGH THE WALL

Lambwool is the project name of the french multi-instrumentalist and sound sculptor Cyril Laurent. This one man project is among the leading ones published by the independent and innovative label Opn Records (mostly known for covering new and challenging works offered by the French's industrial, post-metal, electronic drone ambient underground scene). Before to had signed materials on Opn, Lambwool published two albums on the now cult but dissolute Divine Comedy Records. In this double album, Cyril Laurent carries on the stylistic path already explored in his previous offers, focusing his interest on infinitely enthralling and moving darkened synthesized chords and deep droney sequences. If his first Opn album entitled Mono appeared to be focused on lengthy synthesized moves in a very spacious-isolationist style, this double album explores more post-industrial schemes within a very addictive, sonically dense atmosphere. Exclusively instrumental and playful, all pieces architecture are organized around majestic cinematic keyboards, electrified guitar motifs and acoustic piano minimalism. What makes Lambwool musical identity rather unique is the original use of evocatively melodious elements next to more psych-acoustic experiments. High class compositions, deeply emotional, cerebrally meditative ambient excursions at its finest. This double album is divided in two chapters, the first is based on new materials around a cohesive sound direction, the second one delivers unreleased pieces taken from unreleased old materials, demo tracks. The least I can say is that the two parts offer absolutely gorgeous and utterly absorbing expressive drone ambient textures. My favorite track remains the self-titled track with its refined, enveloping synthscaping lines. If we except the works of Lecanora, Collapsar (?) very few are the dark space ambient artists who are coming from France.

No doubt that with this little classic double album Lambwoll figures at the top of the list. This one can also ravish fans of earliest Klaus Schulze (Cyborg, Timewind?), dronescaping post-rockin atmospherics of Beneath the Lake, Time Hecker or the spacious timbres of analog synth music designed by Steve Roach among many others.