When we met Sam Coe for a
chat recently, she told us all about her forthcoming album, her solo project
“Comeback Queen”. This doesn’t mean she is ditching her long shadows, more that
she has built up a collection of songs, written on the piano at her music
school which are more suitable for a solo album.
Supported by Kevin and Abi
at Ginger Dog records, Sam has now finished and released her new album, and it
is clear that she is excited to share it with the world. The first single from the album Hard Time
showed that Sam had gone – in Francesca’s words - “dark and sassy”, a
description that Sam particularly likes.
The rest of the album is in a similar vein, in that it has allowed Sam
to explore some other sounds.
That exploration is
immediately evident on the opening track Comeback Queen. Opening with a moody keyboard intro, a build
from the Hammond organ, introduction of guitars, the bass line, this track
really builds the expectation, you can almost see Sam walking down stage to
deliver her whispering, dusky vocal.
With this opening, Sam has established herself as a musical diva as much
as a Comeback Queen.
The Hammond organ is present
throughout the album and is very much in evidence in Bonfire – a slow,
measured song with Sam’s vocal over the organ sounding awesome, and the organ
itself provides such a great counterpoint to the soaring voice.
The musical style varies
across the album, showcasing a range of influences, from the rapid almost
staccato Devil Don’t Care which drops into a 60s vibe, to the honky-tonk
piano style in Concrete which summons an image of Sam draped across a
baby grand in perhaps a Chicago speakeasy. This feels like Sam at her most
playful.
In The Moments and
The Truth both strip back the tempo and the arrangement so that we can
once again focus on Sam’s voice- very measured in The Truth, powerful
but almost plaintive in In The Moments, which is a stand out track on a
stand out album.
Cruel
brings back Sam’s huskier voice and raises the tempo, while Safe and Sound
is Sam and piano in true singer songwriter style
Burnt Out features
great instrumentation and soft backing vocals, but highlights why Sam chose to
do a solo album as a project, and whilst she sounds great with her Long
Shadows, songs such as this highlight her vocal and performance range, and her
classical training
Comeback Queen is
an album of many styles and is a wonderful journey through some of Sam’s varied
influences. Merry Go Round is
more of a nod to her country background, with just a guitar as backing whilst Hard
Time is the Dark, Sassy side to Sam, and was an inspired choice as the
first single, announcing as it does that solo Sam is here, and that the album
is something different.
It is clear that Sam has
enjoyed creating this body of work, and you will certainly enjoy listening to
it. Very well produced by Ginger Dog Records, it is perfect listening for the
long dark nights ahead - put it on, sit back and enjoy.
Comeback Queen, the new
album from Sam Coe is available from 29 November, with the album launch at Epic
Studios Norwich on Thursday 28 November.
With a great album and a great support
line up, it will be a fitting and fun evening!
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