There is a saying among the more die-hard of lambfans, one perpetuated by Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes (the central two members of the band, and at the time "Fear of Fours" was released, its only members), that each album relates to a part of the body. Their debut, "lamb", was 'stomach'. Their third, "What Sound", was 'Heart'. Their Fourth (released in the EU in early Nov 2003, Oct 20 in Australia) "Between Darkness & Wonder", had already been dubbed 'spirit' by those select online fans (including myself) who were lucky enough to have heard it before its official EU release date.
Fear Of Fours, their second album, is very definite in deserving the moniker 'head'. Some say this is the least spiritual of the three albums (primarily people who fell in love with LAMB as a result of their third album, "What Sound"), however for me it is LAMB at their most critically creative, with most of their efforts poured into the music and less towards their tpically prominent spiritual elements. "B-Line" bursts onto the brain with sudden, alien ferocity during the chorus, while receding into relative placidity for the verses. The deliciously romantic, floating "in your hands" and "softly" have an effect upon my internal organs akin to hang-gliding, and resisting the urge to sway, dance or even tap a foot in time to them is a little like resisting a tornado hell-bent on sending you stratospheric.
An album that should definitely not be ignored by any fan of progressive music, and an essential for anyone who has ever enjoyed LAMB.
