The new album by Lump, “Animal” is the sound of folk singer Laura Marling going down the rabbit hole with Tunng’s Mark Lindsey. They describe the album as “half cute, half dark and creepy” and are reveling in experimenting with their music and performing without a net.

Animal is the second album by the duo and quite a surprise because their first had all the earmarks of a one-off project.The enimatic sound they make drew them back together to try to top where the first album left off and they’ve succeeded with psychedelic ease, Lindsey handling the electronics and Marling writing the lyrics and singing all the songs.

Using technology once employed by David Bowie on his “Low” album, Lindsey’s infectious dance beats and keyboard wizardry are the perfect accompaniment to Marling’s singing about humanity’s basest primal instincts.

On "Animal" Laura Marling gets to climb out of her folk singer persona that has produced six great albums and try on a new avatar, lead singer of a dark electronica band pushing musical boundaries and succeeding with one of the most compelling albums of the year.

• 
•