Album Review: Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

Over the years Sam Beam, aka Iron & Wine, has become quite the figurehead in the folk music scene. With his direction in sound dramatically changing in his 2007 LP ‘The Shepherd’s Dog’, Beam returns with his fourth studio release ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’, and showcases a style that is almost unrecognisable.

The first track, ‘Walking Far From Home’ opens the album at a slow pace and resembles Beams earlier work. With its simple piano chord progressions and airy vocals throughout, the track surprisingly incorporates a heavy synth sound close to the end, which completely changes its entire dynamic.

Throughout the rest of the LP, Beam is joined by a band of musicians, and for the most part, gone are the acoustic melodies and wispy tones attributed to his style.

In fact, tracks like ‘Monkeys Uptown’ and ‘Big Burned Hand’ are so far removed from what you’d expect, it allows for a totally engaging and enjoyable listening experience. Whether its jazz, folk or samba, Beam seams to cover all bases with those various styles incorporated into his music.

Continuing with the catchy single ‘Tree By The River’, the album constantly surprises you with each track being more experimental and conceptual than the last. The only sense of “folk” you seem to get are glimmers throughout songs such as ‘Half Moon’ and ‘Glad Man Singing’, and even in those cases, Beam and his band add a touch of magic that adds another dimension to every beat and every melody.

Granted this new direction may take a while for old school fans to digest, but Beam has proven that folk music doesn’t have to all be about acoustic guitars and banjos. The use of exotic instruments and unusual synth effects showcases a sense of uncompromised imagination and creativity on an album that really should not be missed.

4.5/5

‘Kiss Each Other Clean’ by Iron & Wine is available now through Warner Bros/4AD Records.

Official Website
Iron & Wine on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Sandeep Dawett: