Album Review: Iron And Wine - Ghost On Ghost
- Written by David Beech
Samuel Beam, otherwise known by his stage name Iron And Wine, has been making folk music in the vein of acts such as Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes for over a decade now. His extensive back catalogue contains a plethora of singles and split releases, live albums and extended plays and has featured on the soundtrack to countless films and TV programmes, from quirky indie flicks like The Garden State to angst-filled teen dramas like 90210 or The O.C. Now, eleven years after the release of his début full-length, comes studio album number five Ghost On Ghost.
The album is a brilliantly eclectic fusion of melodic pop and folk influences combined with elements of jazz. It's a departure from the tension of Beam's previous two albums, but it suggests a growing maturity in his song writing and the harbouring of a slightly sunnier disposition on the part of Beam himself.
The album begins with 'Caught in the Briars' in which a percussive and synth-filled intro gives way almost immediately to an optimistic acoustic guitar and brass section. Optimism is without a doubt the key word here. Every song on Ghost On Ghost is filled with uplifting glimmers of hope and delicate vocal harmonies that soar and allow each track to shine. Sure there are slightly darker tracks featured than that of 'Caught in the Briars' but even then there's an underlying ever-present optimism that permeates even the moodiest of numbers.
One such track is 'Low Light Buddy of Mine' which is a smooth and understated affair in which Beam's vocals are the obvious highlight, contending only with occasional moments of piano and an ever present drum beat that pushed the song forward. About halfway through the first elements of jazz on the album present themselves a sleazy sax and muted bass which continues the understated affair brilliantly, before dropping right back in to a verse. If there's anything this song excerts it's a feeling of motion, something considered integral to jazz and something Beam has encapsulated really quite well.
Singers and the Endless Song continues the jazz aesthetics and features some effective drumming and vocal harmonising. A smooth backing vocal compliments the brass fantastically and it's a brave direction for a member of indie-folk royalty to take. Following song 'Sundown (Back in the Briars)' couldn't be more different. It's a step back towards familiar territory for Beam and features quite possible the best use of vocal harmonising across the whole of Ghosts and is almost completely acappella, save for the songs final 40 seconds in rousing strings and brass swell and roll to the songs conclusion.
'New Mexico's No Breeze' is again familiar territory for established fans of Iron & Wine and is particularly evocative of fellow indie-folkers The Shins. Jangly guitars and strings form the flesh of this song while it's Samuel Beam's picturesque lyricism that ultimately forms the heart of the song; the album and indeed, Iron & Wine as a whole.
The “anxious tension” that Beam purported formed his last two albums in their entirety is all but gone on Ghost On Ghost. Every track floats and rolls lazily and evokes feelings of nostalgia like all good music should. While there are obvious comparisons to make with earlier Iron And Wine records such as Our Endless Numbered Days, the production has increased tenfold. There is a distinct amount of polish felt here when compared to earlier outings. That, however, isn't a bad thing when the record feels as uplifting as this does. The entire album just evokes feelings of Summer, and though somewhat premature, upon listening you can't help but feel that Winter just might finally be behind us.
Ghost on Ghost is out now and available from amazon