Sam Amidon - I See the Sign

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5...according to our Brian on Thu 25 Mar, 2010.

Sam Amidon. He's a NY resident on Iceland's quite wonderful Bedroom Community. This is his 4th full length, his second for the Puffin munchers (old Sugarcubes media in-joke) The first song here is bloody astonishing. Like a dreamy blend of Bill Callahan & Jose Gonzalez, 'How Come That Blood ' mashes hypnotic trad folk elements, electronics & brief flourishes of icy strings to create this legshakingly lovely pastoral classic. Coming on like a more carefree Nick Drake backed by Max Richter on 'Way Go, Lily' his mellow, smoky voice is backed by the hermit-like Beth Orton (who guests on 3 other tracks!). I'm falling for this album big time, lovin' its rustic & graceful charms, its blend of heartfelt folk blues & tender orchestration. There's so much love gone into this record, like everything on the label there's a distinct essence of effortless classicism that wipes the floor with much of the competition. 'I See The Sign' is a total winner.

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I SEE THE SIGN is SAM AMIDON's second album for Icelandic label BEDROOM COMMUNITY following up his acclaimed album ALL IS WELL from 2008.

I SEE THE SIGN sees SAM AMIDON create visionary epics from established modes as he reworks age-old traditional secular ballads, gospel, folk songs and hymns plus a song by one of his idols, R. KELLY.

This recording is a carefully constructed battle and balance of musical sensibilities; produced by VALGEIR
SIGURÐSSON and featuring fearless arrangements by NICO MUHLY, instrumental contributions from SHAHZAD ISMAILY and vocals by BETH ORTON. The needle-drop fuzz that cues Sam Amidon's fourth solo album of songs, I See The Sign, raises the curtain on a world of little theatres, foretelling of an aural gut-grip that is fully human and wholly natural. Amidon's intuitive and often radical reworkings of age-old secular ballads, gospel, folk songs, and hymns render familiar characters new through his direction, vision, vocals, banjo, guitar, and stellar contributions from fellow musicians.

Renowned singer-songwriter Beth Orton emerges after a music-scene hiatus to lend haunting vocals to four songs. Shahzad Ismaily, a long-time collaborator of Amidon's whose musical past includes New York City's improv scene as well as playing bass for Rage Against the Machine, percussion for Tom Waits, and guitar for Laurie Anderson. Offsetting Ismaily's expansive contributions, Nico Muhly's chamber-orchestral arrangements for string, brass, and woodwinds continue the groundbreaking work he began on All Is Well.

In an environment of struggle, euphony, and polyphony, Valgeir Sigurosson's expert role as producer grounds this sonic psychogeography. While atmospheric pressure in “Rain and Snow” builds from love trouble and troubled love, “Pretty Damsel” lightens the scene as Amidon's voice and Muhly's keys cast rays of sun through forests of sugar maple to spotlight music for the hopeful and hope-filled. “How Come That Blood” gallops while Ismaily's percussion and Moog bass, accented by string flourishes as pheasants, take wing to flee the scene. Through recomposed children's singing game “Way Go Lily” and Georgia Sea Islands song “You Better Mind”, Amidon and Orpair elegant vocals to play out strains of concern and comfort. Title song “I See The Sign” steps boldly centre-stagedepict the dark clouds of Armageddon hovering over wildflowers, myrtle and marsh marigold blooming against a roiling grey sky. By stark contrast, an intimate rendition of R&B musician R. Kelly's “Relief” is the perfect dénouement to draw the album's drama to its finale.

TRACKLIST: 1 How Come That Blood 2 Way Go, Lily 3 You Better Mind 4 I See The Sign 5 Johanna The Row-di 6 Pretty Fair Damsel 7 Kedron 8 Rain And Snow 9 Climbing High Mountains 10 Relief 11 Red

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