Melbourne six-piece Lamarama have created a truly odd blend that’s hard to pin down; a bit of folk, a lot of rock, and some out of place sax riffs.
This five-track release gets off to a slow start, and seems to struggle to capture the energy and chaos that the sextet harness so well on stage.
The vocals of frontman Dave Adams are a strong point, standing out amongst the weaker, flatter instrumentation.
Ultimately, it was the pairing of the flute and saxophone that killed this album.
Moments such as the first verse of ‘Ruckatooku’ and the breakdown in ‘Mean City’ prove how well Lamarama can function without them in a traditional pop-rock kind of sense.
While there are no doubts to the talents of flautist Lauren Pell (there is some seriously impressive playing going on here) – it stands out rather than blending with other instruments in the heavier moments.
That said, closing track ‘Indian Overture’ is smooth and calm, easing the album into gentle close. It is here that the collective sound together, rather than separate entities competing for the attention of the listener.
While this track compromises the funkier, psychedelic jam vibe the group embraces, it remains in a recorded form, their greatest strength.
