Hudson Records have announced the release of Sam Sweeney’s forthcoming new album ‘Escape That’ (CD/Digital – 21 October and LP to follow on 11 November 2022 – pre-order here). It is his first entirely self-composed record and his lead single ‘Ruby’ is incredibly revealing.
As revealed in the liner notes of Escape That, Sweeney wrote the album during a period of emotional turbulence, dulled senses and languishing routine. For some, such moments can present a fresh outlook, a new perspective that can reignite creative passion in surprising new ways. Upon listening to the opening track and first album single, Ruby (out today), it would appear that Sweeney has tapped into a seam of gold.
We have never heard Sam Sweeney like this before, the shuddering guitar and bass opening gives the single a shimmering Alt-rock undertone, and while Sweeney’s fiddle weaves a steadying folk vibe throughout the track, the combination works incredibly well; the contrast is really quite beautiful. As a first taster of what’s to come, this may well be his best yet.
Although Sam Sweeney has been on the folk scene for many years now (Kerfuffle, Leveret and the mighty Bellowhead, with whom he will be touring the new album in November – details below), it wasn’t until 2018 that he launched his solo debut The Unfinished Violin, on which he played a World War One violin. He couldn’t have gotten off to a better start – The album was internationally acclaimed and described on these pages as by Aaron Jackson as “vital and powerful, and simply gorgeous…one of the best folk albums of 2018”.
Any fears of a difficult second album were soon put to rest with his 2020 follow-up Unearth Repeat. The contrast between those two albums was very telling; Sam’s not an artist that stands still; he enjoys pushing boundaries, and for that second album he wanted to turn it on its head and do something completely different, so he enlisted some of his favourite musicians and built a band containing two guitarists, plus bass and keys, much like a rock band setup, albeit with the violin taking centre stage. At the time, he said “I don’t think this is what people will expect from me,” he was right, but they loved it. Glenn Kimpton described it as “highly creative work that brings something new to the mix, while also celebrating the simple joys of instrumental folk music. Mesmerising and irresistible stuff.”
How do you follow that?
Escape That ties together all of Sam’s musical passions; an honest and fearless expression of himself, combining pop hooks and aesthetics with his pioneering work in the world of traditional dance tunes. Escape That simultaneously presses the reset button on what a folk record should sound like while marking a major stride forward for Sam into the world of composition.
Written without ever touching the violin, Sam retreated to his attic during the lockdowns of 2020- 21 and created over twenty pieces of music for Escape That using synths and guitars, using snapshots of people and moments as inspiration in a time of isolation. He devised a way of writing where he’d lay down a chord sequence and then record an improvisation over the top. On listening back, anything that could be considered a hook would be kept; everything else was deleted and tracks developed by linking the hooks together to create dance tunes. Once each track was demoed, Sam translated the melodies back to the fiddle.
Escape That is unashamed in its pool of influences. It’s an album laced with visits to old musical companions, culminating in something entirely new; not an uncomfortable fusion of genres but a genuine expression of love for his inspirations, past and present.
The album features Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah) on electric and double bass, Jack Rutter on acoustic guitar, Louis Campbell on electric guitars and Dave Mackay (Art Garfunkel, Plini) on keyboards and synthesizers. Sam once again worked with Hudson Records producer Andy Bell (Spell Songs, Bellowhead) and the album was recorded in the hills of South Wales, Stroud and Sheffield.
“Escape That is the most ‘me’ music I can imagine making. It ties together my love for traditional dance tunes with my obsession with pop music hooks and textures.
Every piece of music we have ever heard leaves a footprint in our minds. With this record I am actively retreading some of these footprints, visiting old musical companions and combining them with my love for traditional dance music. This is emotional music for me and an honest acknowledgment of all the music I have loved since I was a kid. It’s not trying to be anything. It’s as close as I’ve ever got to sharing the sound of the inside of my head.”
Sam will be performing the music from Escape That in November 2022 whilst supporting folk juggernauts Bellowhead, on their sell-out 18-date reunion tour in November 2022.
Nominated four times, and winner in 2015, of Musician Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Sam has been at the forefront of the revival in English music for the last fifteen years. He is a veteran of the mighty Bellowhead, former and inaugural Artistic Director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, a founder member of ground-breaking trio Leveret as well as a passionate and experienced educator. He has collaborated, recorded and performed with The Full English, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings, Fay Hield and Emily Portman as well as creating his own theatre production Made In The Great War. Sam’s previous releases, The Unfinished Violin (Island Records) and Unearth Repeat (Hudson Records) were received with international acclaim.
Escape That Tracklisting
- Ruby
- Want To Fly Want To Flee
- Feet Together Jump
- Escape That
- Pink Steps
- Deep Water Shallow (End)
- Under Gigantic Clouds
- Westering
- Nightshifting / Atlantica
- Yoddin
- Don’t Worry, Trains
Escape That is available from all digital music platforms, on CD, LP and a limited edition red vinyl LP.
Hudson Records will be hosting an exclusive first listen of Escape That in their live listening club and Q&A on October 5th. Get your ticket for the online event now! Finally, if you are a Sam SUPER fan then why not buy the ultimate bundle, signed CD or LP – Exclusive First Listen Live Listening Club and one of only 11 handwritten, signed and framed tune scores from Escape That.
Sam Sweeney Live Dates (Supporting Bellowhead)
November 2022
10 Portsmouth, Guildhall
11 Oxford, New Theatre
12 Leicester, De Montfort Hall
13 Cambridge, Corn Exchange
14 London, Royal Albert Hall
15 Brighton, Dome
16 Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
17 Ipswich, Regent Theatre
18 Bath, The Forum
19 Plymouth, Pavilions
20 Cardiff, St David’s Hall
21 Birmingham, Symphony Hall
22 Newcastle, O2 City Hall
23 Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
25 Harrogate, Convention Centre
26 Liverpool, Philharmonic
27 Sheffield, City Hall
28 Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
https://www.samsweeneymusic.com/