I see the sign

In classical music there’s a tradition of placing folk airs at the core of new compositions. This allows a lived-in melody to take on new life, transformed and transfigured by strange textures and unusual and unexpected harmonies. It’s an approach that could really be adopted more often by folk musicians themselves. Well, at his best Sam Amidon sets his collection of songs about brother killing, judgement day, boat-rowing and lost loves in such a context. His Nick Drake-like vocals convey simple repetitive lines which are transformed into something more complex in a swirl of strings and/or piano. Occasionally, when the harmonies straighten out it gets a bit predictable. Generally, it’s lovely stuff.