Released: 22/03/24
Perhaps best described as a mix of Elliott Smith at his most optimistic (‘Baby Britain’, or ‘Say Yes’), the dreamy AM rock of John and Yoko’s Double Fantasy, and a dash of Cass McCombs, Sam Evian’s fourth album, Plunge, is the best work to date from the Brooklyn artist. A cathartic rock record that melds power pop, iridescent guitar, and raucous psychedelia to create a sound that is somehow both fresh and familiar, the LP is heavily inspired sonically by his penchant for early 70s production: did he track the album live to tape like in the gold old days? Of course he did, and it sounds gorgeous like only warm analogue tape can.
Joined by his closest friends and collaborators, including Liam Kazar, Sean Mullins, El Kempner of Palehound, and the aforementioned Adrianne Lenker, there is a lovely laidback, ‘just hanging’ out with my pals’ feel to Plunge, and spending time in its company is simply a pleasure.