Iron & Wine: Beast Epic – Sam Beam sticks to what he does best

Beast Epic
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Artist: Iron & Wine
Genre: Singer / Songwriter
Label: Sub Pop

After two albums of collaborations – one with Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell, the other with Jesca Hoop – Sam Beam has gone back to his roots. For his sixth album under the Iron & Wine banner, the South Carolina musician sticks to what he's good at: good ol' fashioned indie folk music. There's nothing particularly risky here, but Beam's husky voice remains his calling card on the soulful twang of Claim Your Ghost and when leading a chorus of his bandmates' harmonies on Right for Sky. Most songs bumble pleasantly if forgettably along, although the inventive use of violin on the minimalist Last Night and the warm, organic full-band rumble of standout track Call It Dreaming are more ear-catching. Neither beastly nor epic, but just about enough to sate fans.

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times