"His earliest records were stark, spare and sad, seemingly solo even when augmented by another voice, string player, or percussionist. As the years piled up, Beam developed an appreciation for collaborators, recording full albums with Ben Bridwell, Jesca Hoop, and Calexico, setting him on the path that takes him to the unabashed glow of the new Hen's Teeth."
""Robin's Egg" is loosey-goosey, lightened by the trio's charm, but it's the hushed, lovely "Wait Up" that provides the key that unlocks the rest of the album. There, I'm With Her lifts Beam's melancholy melody out of the doldrums, turning it into a soothing balm."
"A similar trick happens elsewhere on Hen's Teeth, when Beam's daughter Arden sings harmony, lending depth to the plaintive "Grace Notes" and providing a compassionate counterpart during the intricate turns of "Singing Saw.""
Sam Beam, performing as Iron & Wine since 2002, has evolved from creating stark, sparse solo recordings toward embracing collaboration and fuller arrangements. His new album Hen's Teeth, recorded concurrently with Light Verse in Laurel Canyon, features a band including guitarist David Garza, bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and keyboardist Tyler Chester. The album includes contributions from Grammy-winning folk group I'm With Her and Beam's daughter Arden on vocals. Songs like "Wait Up" and "Singing Saw" demonstrate how guest harmonies and instrumental warmth transform Beam's melancholic melodies into emotionally resonant pieces. The album represents a natural progression in Beam's artistic journey, moving beyond his earlier minimalist approach toward richer, more collaborative soundscapes.
Read at Pitchfork
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