Light Verse – Iron & Wine – Album Review
by Cathy Brown

It’s been seven years since Sam Beam, performing as Iron & Wine last released a full album (2017’s Beast Epic) and the few EPs and re-issues of early demos issued in the interim have felt more like holding cards for something more substantial.

That substance has arrived in the form of Light Verse – Beam’s seventh studio album – which showcases an artist at the top of his game, pushing the boundaries of what contemporary Americana can be.

Light Verse is poetry that evokes playful themes, written to delight or entertain and is an apt title for an album which brims with infectious energy. Covid brought on a creative slump for Beam, broken only by the release of the EP Lori, a recording of songs by Lori McKenna. That project reignited the artistic flame and Light Verse was born.

Recorded with engineer and mixer Dave Way at his studio in Laurel Canyon the album features backing from a 24-piece orchestra, giving it an expansive cinematic feel. It is at once sleek, yet packed with clattering percussion, steel guitar and barroom piano, sounds that signify Beam’s Americana roots. For an artist who has always been grounded in artistry and atmosphere, Light Verse retains Beam’s lyrical opacity alongside the core of that unmistakable Iron & Wine sound – Beam’s layered vocals, plucked guitar and evocative songwriting –  all of which provide the foundations for a more generous, up-beat vibe.

The opening track and recent single ‘You Never Know’ echoes the percussive sound of the songs of Beast Epic, easing the listener in with a recognisable prospect. ‘Anyone’s Game’ embraces a funkier vibe, with an 80s-inflected rhythm that builds to a glorious finish. ‘All in Good Time’, a duet with Fiona Apple, is an instant classic. The country music inflections nod to Dolly and Kenny while the songwriting is timeless. ‘Taken by Surprise’ is a sonic slice of loveliness, an ode to a past love that shimmers with fond regret, while ‘Yellow Jacket’ could have come straight out of a Bernstein musical. ‘Tears That Don’t Matter’ is the most obtuse song on the album, an ominous list of random advice that builds to a cascade of pulsing cello and swirling strings, reminiscent of The Beatles ‘A Day in the Life’. Closing number ‘Angels Go Home’ makes the best use of the orchestral arrangements and is just crying out for a big-screen movie to soundtrack.

Light Verse is something more than a collection of songs gathered around a few potential singles. The presence of standout tracks like ‘You Never Know’ and ‘All in Good Time’, don’t detract from the cohesive nature of an album that exists to be relished as a whole, something Sam Beam has been consistently good at doing throughout his career. Light Verse is Iron & Wine’s most ambitious and innovative album to date, a skilled metamorphosis to a sound that feels grander and more assured than anything that has come before. It is the kind of album that demands close listening, thanks to its chimerical sweep and musical mastery.

Light Verse occupies the metaphorical crossroads between Beam’s early acoustic work and his later forays into more complex arrangements and showcases an artist unafraid to challenge both himself and his listener. A reminder of why Sam Beam has always stood above and beyond a host of other sensitive singer-songwriters, Light Verse is a playful work of joyous virtuosity that cements Iron & Wine’s reputation as an authentic yet profound musical artist.