There is a hesitance in Sam Moss‘s voice. Not one that is telling of uncertainty, but one that takes great care and consideration in what is pouring next from his soul and fingers. A grace is present in the presentation that he lays forth with his music. Caution and attention to detail in his works, all the while being infused with emotion and sentiment that speaks through his expressive, melodic voice.
“Beast” (off of Moss’s latest release, Fable ) wastes no time in gaining its momentum. The finger picking dances quickly across the sparse palette of the track. Elegant and breathing. The smokiness of the singer-songwriter’s voice then whisps its way around the rapidly trickling lines of his acoustic guitar picking patterns and sparse notes from the droning electric guitar. A beautiful contrast in arrangement that creates a tension for the vocal to peer in and shine through the blinds created by the fast trickling drops of each note falling from the artist’s fingertips.
As much as the track moves and sways, there is a ghostly quality to Moss’s voice. Almost a hushed whisper at times that elevates in the moments that need it most, eerie and haunting yet still rousing and stirring in its own way. Enchanting beauty exists in the lines of “Beast” and it feels as a harrowing journey through some storied book that has made its way through time and unearthed itself in the collection here on Fable. A brilliant new work from an incredible talent.
Fable is out on May 6th with the next Boston area show on June 15th at The Red Room at Cafe 939. Get your tickets today. You can pre-order the record on Bandcamp and stream two other tracks right now.
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photo courtesy of the artist, by Emily Haviland Baker