Album Review: Lambchop - FLOTUS

8 November 2016 | 1:29 pm | Ross Clelland

"Is this Wagner's future, or just a detour to puzzle?"

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Similar to Bon Iver's recent electronic turn, Kurt Wagner takes his Lambchop brand name and lurches away from his/their familiar lush country-ish tones.

Opener In Care Of 8675309 has some hints of the 'old' style, but then stretches and meanders on for just on 12 minutes, beds of synths cradling Wagner's croon. Then it goes different places. Namechecking Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean as influences, Writer is near-spoken-word over beeps and squawks, voices dropping in and out - hip hop? Yeah, no. Or maybe it might be in the more eclectic suburbs of Nashville. So, is this Wagner's future, or just a detour to puzzle? You might have to wait on what comes next.