Artist: Sam Kills Two
Title: Sam Kills Two
Label: Rocket Girl
Genre: Indie
Bitrate: 171kbit av.
Time: 00:48:07
Size: 61.75 mb
Rip Date: 2009-02-06
Str Date: 2009-02-16
1. Flatland 2:15
2. 2020 5:27
3. Passenger List 4:15
4. Lay Low 4:41
5. No 6 5:29
6. Instrumental No 2 2:05
7. Your Whisper 4:25
8. Floating 3:59
9. Electric Shock 5:24
10. Polar White 10:07
Release Notes:
Formed by singer-songwriter Fred Bjorkvall and guitarist Geoff
Gamien, the current line-up of Sam Kills Two was rounded out
by drummer Matt Bell in 2006. Two years in the making, their
self-titled debut finally sees the light of day in 2009
courtesy of indie label Rocket Girl and with the fingerprints
of ex-Dodgy frontman Nigel Clark all over the album. It's been
quite a few months for the Britpop also-rans, what with Mathew
Priest showing up in psych-rockers The Yellow Moon Band.
Sam Kills Two reprises three tracks from a previously released
EP, Electric Shock, Polar Winter and Flatland. The latter
opens the album on a delicate note, with double-tracked
acoustic guitars creating a suitably calming atmosphere.
After that calming instrumental, 2020 opens with a desolate
piano before moving into a soft folk rock shuffle. Bjorkvall's
vocals are gossamer thin indie but provide the perfect
counterpoint to the music. The repeated refrain "we lost it
some how" is the key here to the album's air of autumnal
melancholy.
The introduction of electric guitar on Passenger List ups the
ante somewhat, although the upbeat cheerfulness of the music
remains at odds with the lyrical tone, which is set by the
opening line 'All the rivers turn black/Nearly gave me a heart
attack'.
After that odd interlude the album switches into top gear with
the gorgeous Lay Low, on which Bjorkvall's intimate vocal is
given added gravitas by a sinuous cello line. In sharp
contrast, No 6 opens with a buzzing feedback line before
segueing into a twisting folk pop song that provides the album
with a rare burst of sunshine.
The self-explanatory Instrumental No 2 does what it says on
the tin and provides the trio with further room to showcase
their virtuoso skills. Following on, the blend of acoustic and
electric instrumentation and Bjorkvall's plaintive vocals on
Your Whisper runs Lay Low a close race for the album's best
track.
After a slight detour into jazz-lite on Floating that does at
least support the subject matter of the song, the album closes
with the previously released Electric Shock and Polar Winter.
The hazy feedback on the former is one of many exquisite
production touches throughout the album, while the minor
chords on the latter gradually build up to an explosive
finale.
Unfortunately, the curse of the hidden track rears its ugly
head yet again with the trio choosing to tack on a campfire
sing-along that rather spoils the mood they have so
painstakingly built up on the album.
Despite a few false steps (the shuffling drums sometimes veer
to far into jazz territory), this is a fine debut from a
talented band. With the indie clout of Rocket Girl behind
them, hopefully Sam Kills Two will gain a foothold in a
crowded market. It's the least they deserve.