Lulu & the Lampshades – Cold Water EP

A few years ago Lulu & the Lampshades were most commonly affiliated with Peggy Sue & the Pirates. Besides sharing a similar name, the two were frequently found in London playing melodic swing-pop together – a partnership that resulted in a full UK tour. Between then and now, their styles have shifted apart to represent opposing sides of the folk-pop bracket. Peggy Sue have abbreviated both their name and sound to champion a folk-punk swagger, and judging by Lulu & the Lampshades’ Cold Water EP, the Bristol four-piece have made a curveball into bluegrass.

The best example of this is the harmonic lull of ‘Cups’, a revived version of the classic ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me (When I’m Gone)’. Despite a faux-Americana lilt in the vocal, the song offers a charming foray into quaint music. With a similar lust for the inoffensive, eponymous track and opener ‘Cold Water’ kicks up its heels and celebrates calypso, and the rumble of ‘Moccasin Mile’ is infectious. The song writing is innovative enough to ensure none of the above are tedious, but it’s the melancholy ‘Demons’ that prevents Cold Water from curdling. The song’s subtle beauty stands stark against the tracks which surround it. It’s a wonderful insight into what the band could achieve given the space of an album.

Lulu & the Lampshades still rub shoulders with Peggy Sue, but their newly developed sound draws closer comparison to Tilly & the Wall, and Cold Water‘s penchant for fun reminisces on Noah & the Whale’s early material. Initial concern regarding the unchallenging nature of Lulu & the Lampshades’ music was justifiable – their penchant for home grown videos and wearing household appliances on their head certainly implies they don’t take their work seriously. However, Cold Water proves Lulu & the Lampshade are capable of much more than quirky entertainment. This isn’t just whimsical fun; this is a well conceived plan, put to enjoyable melody and rhythm.