Lambert - I AM NOT LAMBERT

He doesn't hide, he separates. De Hamburgse pianist Lambert has worn his characteristic Sardinian carnival mask throughout his entire career. By decoupling his artistic persona from his real identity, he tries to distance himself from doubt, expectations, and self-examination. This creates more space for what really counts: the music. For nine albums, he has been playing with the mystery surrounding his identity. And now Lambert is back. Or perhaps he never left. He released a new album this year. It is called I AM NOT LAMBERT. I AM NOT LAMBERT sounds unmistakably like Lambert: minimalist but atmospheric, repetitive but exploratory. Yet the pianist takes a clear step forward here. For the first time, vocals play a prominent role on the record. In addition to his own vocals, often distorted with a vocoder, he invites artists like Kat Frankie and GOODWIN to add further color to the album. Although the title refers to what Lambert is NOT, the music tells exactly how many layers he consists of. The inspiration for his songs comes from everywhere: from noughties indiefolk to jazz pianist Oscar Peterson and cult film composer John Carpenter. The result is an album that moves effortlessly between classical, pop, and jazz, constantly floating in a dreamy, cinematic atmosphere. With a versatile discography and years of experiments in different genres, the question of who Lambert really is only becomes harder to answer. I AM NOT LAMBERT is not an answer, but an invitation. A game with who he is — and perhaps especially with who he is not. Listen to I AM NOT LAMBERT here.