Sam Wills – Speak
It’s been four years since his five-paw rated debut album “Breathe”. UK singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Wills returns with his sophomore LP “Speak” with 11 new tracks plus a semi-dramatic intro opening called “Hallway”. Four singles have been released between May and September, with the wonderful smooth ballad “We Both Know” leading the pack with Sam’s very touching and easing falsetto vocals. Sometimes I wonder how he manages to hit all these high notes. It’s an incredibly catchy tune. As is “Coulda Been Us”, the second single with a hookline to die for and some really cool drum work. With “Amelia”, he throws us back to the early to mid 80s with a thumping bass-driven tune which is coming straight out of the Pointer Sisters bag, circa 1983. And for his fourth single “Voicenotes”, he returned to some more cute harmony vocals on a short tune which sounds like an instant standard.
He also shows his brilliant songwriting skills on “All She Wrote” which opens the album straight after the short intro. It’s another little gem. I also dig the phat bassline on “No Pressure”, a slow and funky, soul-induced piece which is one of the highlights of the album. The mood turns slightly melancholic on the title track and a bit mournful but bittersweet on the stripped-down “Bitter Taste”. He opens up again for “The Heart Of It”, once again backed by a masterful, superb production from his mates from his debut album: Finlay Robson and Beau Diakowicz plus Dan Holloway, Conor Albert, The CARRTOONS, Solomon Fox, and Shaan Ramaprasad. Great work! Sam gets help from singer ELIZA on “For The Night”, another memorable, yet pretty short tune. And Sam’s stunning vocals, including some sensational backing vocals with strings, can be witnessed again on the superb album closer “This Is How It Ends”. The album is out on vinyl too. Please catch Sam while he’s on tour in the UK and Europe soon.
11/03 Manchester – Yes
11/04 Glasgow – The Rum Shack
11/06 Dublin – The Grand Social Ballroom
11/08 Bristol – The Croft
11/10 Brussels – AB Club
11/11 Amsterdam – Bitterzoet
11/12 Cologne – Helios37
11/14 Hamburg – Indra
11/15 Copenhagen – Ideal Bar
11/17 Berlin – Privatclub
11/19 Paris – Le Hasard Ludique
11/21 London – Village Underground
11/22 Hastings – Printworks
