The Sam Willows – The Sam Willows

Text: Sherman Yang

Local band The Sam Willows harmonizes very well on the track ‘Glasshouse’ on the latest self-titled album The Sam Willows. The song starts off slowly with just the guitar and vocal harmonies, before picking up tempo after the first verse. While sounding a tad monotonous at points, the track is somehow catchy playing with variations in tempo throughout the song. 

The Sam Willows also recorded the official soundtrack ‘Nightlight’ to the indie short film Hun. It is an emotional track with once again excellent vocal harmonies. Narelle’s vocals sound sweet and angelic which draws you deeper into the song. Together with Ben, who has a more raspy voice and Sandra who adds some backup vocals, the trio of vocals blend perfectly. The heart-wrenching lyrics and tune might even cause you to shed a tear or two.

‘Crimson’ kicks off with an upbeat tempo and a slightly more electronic sound which brings variety and range to the band’s EP. Narelle opens up the song with a more sultry sound while Sandra also shows off her powerful vocals in the second verse. Needless to mention, Ben’s vocals and Jon’s guitar skills are showcased well on the track as well.

The Sam Willows have a unique sound as a band and their voices complement each other very well as can be seen by the excellent harmonies throughout the album. Not to mention their abilities as musicians as well with each of the band members being proficient in at least one instrument. The quartet is also scheduled to perform at Mediacorp’s Countdown 2013 at The Float @ Marina Bay.

Recommended tracks: ‘Glasshouse’, ‘Nightlight’, ‘Crimson’

Rating: 4/5