Around The Well

Spin (p.91) - "Beam's breathy croon is as soothing as a lullaby....'Love Vigilantes' beats them all, by bringing to the surface New Order's inner Johnny Cash." Uncut - 4 stars out of 5 -- "These are finely detailed hymnals with a deceptively light touch, led out by Beam's warm-blanket voice and brittle guitar." Billboard (pp.33-34) - "Tracks worth repeated listens include the eloquent, gospel-ish 'The Trapeze Swinger' and the luminous, harmonies-rich shuffle 'God Made the Automobile'..." Pitchfork (Website) - "'Communion Cups & Someone's Coat' sports beautifully layered vocals, while 'Belated Promise Ring' holds even with nearly any Iron & Wine album track with its softly ingratiating melody." Record Collector (magazine) (p.91) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "AROUND THE WELL is a luxurious collection of 33 rare and hard to find Iron & Wine songs....[With] a fabulous version of The Flaming Lips' 'Waiting On A Superman,' which is delivered with such delicacy it feels as if it could break at any point."

シンガー・ソングライター、サム・ビームによるソロ・ユニットの２年ぶりの新作は、未発表曲やレアトラックを集めた２枚組コンピ。最近、ハリウッドの娯楽大作のサントラで、何度か彼の曲が使われていて驚いたが、本作には映画のために書き下ろした曲も収録。さらにニュー・オーダーやフレーミング・リップスなど、意外な選曲によるカヴァーも興味深い。ともあれ、どの曲もアコースティックなサウンドと繊細なアレンジで仕上げられていて、サムの歌声が優しく語りかけてくる。聴けばホロ酔い間違いなしの豊潤なワイン。
intoxicate (C)村尾泰郎