My personal review of Sam Amidon's brand new album 'I See The Sign'
In times like these, when I ponder abandoning the Catholic Church, I need someone or something to remind me that true spirituality is to be found within ourselves. A church that tells people what to do and where to abstain from, meanwhile covering up their own mistakes and wrong-doings, cannot be my church.
Sam Amidon deals in spirituality. From the blood-pumping heart beat of ‘How Come That Blood’ onwards, his new album is like a catalogue of human emotions. Some reviewers wrote about this album as a collection of children’s songs. No way. This is as mature as it gets, hell – it could do with a parental advisory warning.
Despite the fact that “we are one, the war is over, there’s an angel in the sky and love is still alive”, there’s a veil of blood all over his music. People drown their sisters out of jealousy; kill their brothers over a hazelnut tree; shoot their lovers’ suitors and kill their wives because they feel ill treated. People are vain, credulous, ignorant, and selfish and still believe all will be well in the end. Will it?
Yet the songs are so beautifully performed, with meaning not merely conveyed in the lyrics themselves, but also in their delivery. For example, in the heart wrenching ‘Rain and Snow’, the first time Sam sings “this way, and I’m not gonna be treated this way”, it sounds raw, displaying constrained anger and deception. When the same line returns after the deed is done, it sounds soft, wondering and almost remorseful.
Judgement Day, that’s what this album is about in my opinion. Everyone will have to account for their deeds, if not below, then above. And it’s a struggle to get to that day, to get home. Some hope to cover up their deeds, others offer justification or seek understanding. Most show remorse, all are afraid.
And right there in the middle is 'Kedron', unfolding like a lost gospel. A gorgeous hinge around which the album’s songs revolve. Don’t be afraid, it says. “Oh, look how patiently he hangs - Jesus our Lord is crucified”. What could be worse than that? This is not a song; it is a prayer for redemption.
“Thou Man of grief, remember me.
Thou never canst Thyself forget.
Thy last expiring agony.
Thy fainting pangs and bloody sweat.”
The songs’ order is crucial. A reviewer mentioned that the album should have finished with ‘Relief’ (an amazing R Kelly cover). Yeah, you wish it would. But things rarely end in relief, although there may be some of it along the way to keep your spirits up. The end is Red, blood red. All the major themes on the album come together, musically as well as lyric wise. 'Red' is the one song that Sam wrote himself; the others are traditional songs. The lost sheep have been found and gathered. The last mountain is to be conquered to get home. Ben Frosts guitar pounds relentlessly, like a heart beat counting down – but with climbing notes. And then that sweet but haunting Kedron theme kicks in from Nico Muhly’s harmonium, leaving you with goose bumps all over.
Is this The Sign Sam wants us to see?
Don’t know if I’ll stick with that church. But I will stick with Sam Amidon, that’s for sure.
Out now on the Bedroom Community label.
Search the internet if you want to read reviews that deal with the music, the instruments used, the musicians performing. This is just a very personal view.
