Lung

Let It Be Gone

Romanus Records

This album, recorded before the pandemic and delayed because of that, trouble finding a label, and being on the soundtrack of a horror film that never got released, doesn’t sound dated. What it does sound like is one of the best albums of the year.

The sound of Lung, who are Daisy Caplan and Kate Wakefield is unique. Kate is classically trained and plays the electric cello, making it sound like a lead guitar. Daisy plays drums. It’s not for the fainthearted. It’s pretty dark, yet doesn't sound disturbing, just filled with dread and unease, which does fit today's mood. It was recorded and engineered wonderfully by Mike Montgomery.

Come Clean Right Now, an album the band recorded while the wait for Let It be Gone was on, was spare and stark. Gone, on the other hand, is lush with many layers, more cello, and more vocals. The ultimate 1-2 punch of the album is “Siren Song” and “Her Voice Is What follows.” The former says beware the siren's song, and we don't know if the person running from the siren gets away. The latter continues the siren’s voice, presented as an aria.

If you want something different and very good, try Lung. You’ll be rewarded with a great album. Gone was more than worth the wait.

Andrea Weiss