Friday, November 15, 2019

Album Review - Comeback Queen - Sam Coe


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!

No comments:

Post a Comment