I did a two-night plant medicine ceremony this past weekend, and when I had the chance to choose music for the setting toward the end of night two, only one album felt right: LUMP.
LUMP is a collaborative project between folk singer Laura Marling and electronic music producer Mike Lindsay. According to Pitchfork, the name LUMP was chosen by Marling’s 6-year-old goddaughter. The album art and accompanying music album features what I presume to be the LUMP, an orange sasquatch creature without a visage.
I wanted to confront my place in our society over those two nights, so it makes sense that lyrics skewing mass marketing culture and commodified spirituality set over over a Moog synth played like The Phantom’s organ resonated in the moment. Though it’s resonated since I first stumbled across the track “Late to the Flight” on a Spotify Discover playlist in spring of 2019. I fell gleefully into the 7-track album, floating in it's layered, symphonic composition, poetic, sometimes snarky lyrics, and Marling’s ethereal register all summer. This is one of those albums that sounds different as the seasons change.
When I was struggling to learn to meditate in early 2020, the track “May I Be the Light” played in my mind on repeat. If I couldn’t ruminate, I could at least listen to music. The chorus soon became a fitting mantra that carried me through that hard year.
If you’d like to challenge your thinking mind with the next best thing to silence, try sitting through the 32 minute album without any other distractions. Tell me what you feel.
A second LUMP album, Animal, recently dropped, too, if you want more.
Until next week,
Elizabeth
This newsletter is just one facet of Zhuzh, my platform dedicated to conscious consumption and making space for delight. I offer secondhand-and-vintage-based wardrobe and interior styling services, art curation, and super chill life coaching. Keep up with me on Instagram and learn more at www.zhuzhlife.com.