Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine

This, the fourth studio release by American singer-songwriter Sam Beam A.K.A Iron & Wine, follows his 2007 musical reinvention that was the critically acclaimed album, The Shepherd’s Dog. That release saw Beam switch from the simple, raw acoustic sound that he had made his name with, to much broader and lusher music, with incredible results. Kiss Each Other Clean looks to build on this success and complete Iron & Wine’s transition from acoustic balladeer to indie hero, making it both a much more ambitious and much riskier album than its predecessor.

The album opens with “Walking Far From Home”, a comfortingly familiar ballad, with lyrics that roam as widely as the title, and echoing voids filled with electronic clicks and whirls of sound. It’s followed by “Me and Lazarus”, with Beam’s layered falsetto duelling with saxophone in a stripped down funk tune musing on the traditional Iron & Wine themes of religion and lost opportunities.

Back in October of last year, Beam announced that the new album would sound like “mid-70s FM radio-friendly” music, and both funk and jazz have had a clear impact on the sound of this album. Feathery jazz flute drifts over the African drums at the closing of centrepiece track “Rabbit Will Run”, and closer “Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me” brings in a horn section to create a brash, funky but pensive track that rounds off the album superbly.

Kiss Each Other Clean, however, transcends a mere pop-funk record through Beam’s amazing lyrical ability. Whether through allegory like the coupling of the lion and the lamb in “Big Burned Hand”, the powerful opposing couplets that close “Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me”, or simply an incredibly evocative line like “As far as I can tell, the night won't compensate the blind” on “Godless Brother In Love”, your attention in grabbed tightly by Beam right at the start of the album, given a good lyrical shake up, and not let go until right at the very end.

On this album then, Sam Beam has created something that combines the very best of his lyrical talent and musical skill from his first two albums, the musical expansion and experimentation of The Shepherd’s Dog, and excellent production techniques to create an album that truly establishes Iron & Wine as one of the best indie acts of the past decade.

Scores (out of 10)

Lyrics: 9
Vocals: 7
Instrumentals: 8
Album arrangement: 8
Overall: 8

Favourite track - Difficult choice, but probably 'Rabbit Will Run'

New Artists: Lucy Rose

Thanks to the runaway success of Laura Marling, a new generation of gifted female singer/songwriters are springing up on the indie/folk scene. Lucy Rose is one of this new breed, a 20-year old with an incredible singing voice, and a songwriting talent to match.

Lucy began writing her music in high school, but kept her passion a secret from friends and family until she left school. Then her career took off, being chosen by Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman to provide backing vocals on critically acclaimed second album, Flaws, thanks to some amazing Myspace demos and a series of well reviewed indie-night performances at pubs and clubs around London.

Lucy’s brilliant, slightly husky singing voice, emphasised by the self produced nature of the tracks she has released so far on Myspace, along with her age, looks and musical style are all likely to draw comparisons to Laura Marling, which is no small compliment for any aspiring folk singer/songwriter. However, the area which really makes her stand out is her lyrics. Rather than opting for the mysterious, metaphorical poetic style of Laura’s work, she speaks from the heart, with an emotional sincerity that is both personal and endearing, and infinitely listenable.

So far, Lucy has released 8 tracks via her Myspace page, all self written and produced. My favourites are the incredibly catchy acoustic number Middle of the Bed, and the emotional and heartfelt Bull to the Red. However, my favourite Lucy Rose appearance so far was on the popular YouTube music channel watchlistentell (if you haven’t heard of it yet, check it out, it’s awesome), performing a version of probably her best song yet, Night Bus. Its combination of excellent songwriting, layered melodic guitars and harmonious vocals make it a standout, and lead to it becoming one of watchlistentell’s most popular videos.

Lucy Rose is definitely one to watch. Her beautiful music, honest lyrics, songwriting talent and her excellent live performances make her one of the artists I’m most excited about in the coming year, and the current folk revival and success of the likes of Laura Marling, Emmy the Great and Alessi’s Ark means she is perfectly poised to break onto the music scene and make 2011 her year.

Nathan Murphy