Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Sam is a superlative singer/songwriter. In an age when banal platitudes are often offered as spiritual insight and the only alternative seems a tortured descent into indulgence or nihilism, Sam stands a beacon of honest integrity. After a haunting acoustic only "Rescue Me" the song suddenly cracks into a goodtime romp "I Believe In Freedom" with the Woebegone Brothers providing fulsome harmonies. Richard G. Michell's production brings an edge of sophistication to the proceedings while never emasculating the folk roots feel and on the eery ballad "Now Than Forever" the fragments of synth lost in an ocean of reverb are superb. Superb too is Sam's voice: rich, expressive and the perfect foil to his elegant songwriting. Definitely, an album to buy.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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