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Over the last 12 years, there has been no one more dedicated to preserving the tradition of folk music than Sam Lee from London. Not only is he a talented singer, but also a passionate promoter and expert of the wilderness (having trained with Ray Mears). His main goal has been to discover new musical landscapes for old songs, many of which he learned from members of the travelling community. In his third album, “Old Wow” released in 2020, Lee’s vocals are paired with creative arrangements by Bernard Butler, the former guitarist of Suede who has evolved into a versatile scholar.
The album “songdreaming” displays even greater ambition. Its tracks, all created by Lee, feature a singer portrayed as a shamanic figure exploring landscapes that are praised through folk songs and poetry, but now struggling with the impending collapse of the environment. The opening track, “Bushes and Briars,” starts off with a peaceful search for bird songs but gradually becomes engulfed in a sinister blend of violin, piano, guitar, and dissonant sounds. The melodic and leisurely numbers take unexpected turns into vast expanses of space-like noises, or, as seen in “Meeting Is a Pleasant Place,” powerful protest anthems sung by a trans choir, Trans Voices. The themes of romantic love and reverence for nature are inseparable, with Lee’s words urging listeners to “be soft like green moss, be free.” The album’s dreamy atmosphere is alluring yet unsettling, serving as a poignant tribute to Great Britain’s troubled spirit.
Source: theguardian.com
