Lambchop’s Punching the Clown sees Kurt Wagner return to a more elemental approach, inspired by a late-night encounter with a gospel recording rooted in the “lined out singing” tradition. That call-and-response style, led by a single voice guiding a group word by word, informs the album’s understated, communal feel. After revisiting his songwriting process, Wagner distilled a large body of material into a focused set recorded over three days. Working alongside Andrew Broder, Justin Vernon, and a six-part choir assembled by Blake Morgan, the sessions prioritise space, restraint and collective performance. Engineered by Mark Nevers and produced by Ryan Olson, the result is a quietly affecting record that leans on voice, phrasing and minimal arrangement.