Unlike his early efforts, this is no lo-fi effort, even if it does convey a homespun vibe by way of an array of acoustic instruments and a voice that is the aural equivalent of a cosy sleeping bag.
As strong as 2007 standout The Shepherd’s Dog, this sixth studio album (not counting various side projects) features more than a few songs that show off Beam’s compositional flair, including Last Night, which is built on a bed of plucked violins, double bass and Tom Waits-ish glockenspiel.
• Iron and Wine. Beast Epic. Sub Pop.
• Four and a half stars (out of five)
Single download: Call It Dreaming
For those who like: Bon Iver, A.A. Bondy
— Shane Gilchrist
