Gentle Lurch, The
Workingman's Lurch
It is difficult to call The Gentle Lurch a folk band, but its also difficult to call their output experimental music. There are only three choruses on the whole album. Most tracks are like journeys from point A to point B, others level and rise like waves on an ocean. They use elements of Folk, Country and Americana, because they like their emotional directness. But they realign them into something different. Ludwig Bauer has written two harrowingly beautiful string arrangements and, from time to time, an obscure Choir of Mothers expands the polyphony of voices of the bands three lead singers. Their songs are lyric-heavy and narrative. Cornelia Mothes takes up much more room on this record, confronting Lars Hillers stoic sing-song manner of recitation with a comforting, almost redemptive element. She also brings a previously unfound directness and pop-affinity to the bands third record. Workingmans Lurch is both - complaint and consolation.