Hen’s Teeth is the eighth album by Iron and Wine and his sixth for Sub Pop, a record Sam Beam describes as “an impossible thing that’s real.” Written and recorded during the same fertile sessions as Light Verse, the album captures a moment when songs came together quickly and instinctively, often in just a few takes, driven by trust between Beam and a close-knit group of collaborators.
Where Light Verse leaned airy and impressionistic, Hen’s Teeth is earthier, darker, and more tactile. Its songs dwell on physical closeness, shared breath, and emotional entanglement, pairing direct folk songwriting with bolder genre touches drawn from folk-rock, tropicalia, and jazz-inflected arrangements. Beam’s focus here is less on form than feel, letting familiar styles open into unexpected endings and textures.
The album features a fluid ensemble including David Garza, Sebastian Steinberg, Tyler Chester, Paul Cartwright, and multiple drummers, with string arrangements woven throughout. The trio I’m With Her appear on key duets, while Beam’s daughter Arden contributes harmonies that add a quietly personal resonance. Hen’s Teeth reflects an artist working freely, guided by collaboration, chance, and the joy of making something that feels both unlikely and deeply present.
Pickup available at Dreamhouse Records London
Usually ready in 24 hours
