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Much to his credit, brave Sam Amidon has taken on the task of making folk music—not the Peter, Paul & Mary and Dylan variety but much earlier traditional music—into an artform relevant and in touch with the modern world. Amidon is uniquely equipped for the task. The son of two early shape note/sacred harp enthusiasts, Amidon, who plays the gamut of stringed instruments, grew up as a traditional folk music scholar-by-osmosis. With an expressive if not exceptionally strong voice, Amidon's secret lies in his abilities as an arranger and orchestrator of fresh ideas. Here he works his layered, rhythmically vital approach on a collection of some of the oldest and most beloved traditional tunes from the Anglo-American folk tradition, many of which almost raise…well, a groove.
Produced by Amidon and beautifully recorded in London, guests here include Belgian guitarist Bert Cools, labelmate Sam Gendel on alto saxophone, and Amidon's wife Beth Orton who adds harmony vocals to three tunes. The method is grounded in a band that includes longtime collaborators drummer Chris Vatalaro and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, both of whom are skilled at synthesizers, electronics and effects. Led by Amidon's acoustic guitar, "Pretty Polly" a traditional English murder ballad that tells the story of a woman slain by her sailor lover here becomes lighthearted thanks to a steady drum beat and occasional synth flourishes. Another U.K.-filtered-through-America tune, "Spanish Merchants Daughter" also known as "No, Sir, No" and describes a courting ritual, is given an airiness by using reverb on vocals, percussion and saxophone flutterings by Gendel. The folk standard "Cuckoo," covered by everyone from Townes Van Zandt to Bob Dylan, gets lively in the extreme with Amidon's banjo and various whistle sounds, all driven by a genuinely fast tempo generated by varied percussion. Making clear his respect for his sources, this 40-year old star updater of folk traditions plays it straight on a version of "Time Has Made a Change," a song recorded by his parents in 1982 that perfectly sums up this thoughtful reshaping of heritage into futurism. © Robert Baird/Qobuz
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Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Percussion, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Bass Moog - Chris Vatalaro, Drums - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Banjo, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Bert Cools, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer Guitar
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Percussion, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass - Chris Vatalaro, Drums - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Sam Gendel, Saxophone - Bert Cools, Electric Guitar
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Taj Mahal, Writer - Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals - Chris Vatalaro, Synthesizer - Sam Amidon, Producer, Banjo, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Bert Cools, Electric Guitar
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Traditional, Lyricist - Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Keyboards, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Beth Orton, Vocals - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Chris Vatalaro, Cymbals - Sam Amidon, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Ruth Goller, Acoustic Bass
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Electric Bass - Chris Vatalaro, Drums - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Banjo, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Sam Gendel, Saxophone - Bert Cools, Electric Guitar
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Charles Wesley, Lyricist - William Walker, Writer - Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Electric Bass - Chris Vatalaro, Keyboards - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Chris Vatalaro, Drums, Flute, Percussion - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Banjo, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Ruth Goller, Acoustic Bass - Bert Cools, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer Guitar
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Beth Orton, Vocals - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Sam Amidon, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Harkins Frye, Writer - Ruth Goller, Acoustic Bass
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Leo Abrahams, Mixer, Additional Production, AdditionalEngineer - John Baldwin, Masterer - Beth Orton, FeaturedArtist - Cameron Craig, Engineer - Shahzad Ismaily, Electric Bass - Chris Vatalaro, Tibetan Singing Bowl Bells - Sam Amidon, Producer, Arranger, Banjo, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
Album review
Much to his credit, brave Sam Amidon has taken on the task of making folk music—not the Peter, Paul & Mary and Dylan variety but much earlier traditional music—into an artform relevant and in touch with the modern world. Amidon is uniquely equipped for the task. The son of two early shape note/sacred harp enthusiasts, Amidon, who plays the gamut of stringed instruments, grew up as a traditional folk music scholar-by-osmosis. With an expressive if not exceptionally strong voice, Amidon's secret lies in his abilities as an arranger and orchestrator of fresh ideas. Here he works his layered, rhythmically vital approach on a collection of some of the oldest and most beloved traditional tunes from the Anglo-American folk tradition, many of which almost raise…well, a groove.
Produced by Amidon and beautifully recorded in London, guests here include Belgian guitarist Bert Cools, labelmate Sam Gendel on alto saxophone, and Amidon's wife Beth Orton who adds harmony vocals to three tunes. The method is grounded in a band that includes longtime collaborators drummer Chris Vatalaro and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, both of whom are skilled at synthesizers, electronics and effects. Led by Amidon's acoustic guitar, "Pretty Polly" a traditional English murder ballad that tells the story of a woman slain by her sailor lover here becomes lighthearted thanks to a steady drum beat and occasional synth flourishes. Another U.K.-filtered-through-America tune, "Spanish Merchants Daughter" also known as "No, Sir, No" and describes a courting ritual, is given an airiness by using reverb on vocals, percussion and saxophone flutterings by Gendel. The folk standard "Cuckoo," covered by everyone from Townes Van Zandt to Bob Dylan, gets lively in the extreme with Amidon's banjo and various whistle sounds, all driven by a genuinely fast tempo generated by varied percussion. Making clear his respect for his sources, this 40-year old star updater of folk traditions plays it straight on a version of "Time Has Made a Change," a song recorded by his parents in 1982 that perfectly sums up this thoughtful reshaping of heritage into futurism. © Robert Baird/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:38:16
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Sam Amidon
- Label: Nonesuch
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Folk
© 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc. ℗ 2020 Nonesuch Records Inc.
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