Sam and the Sea is a New York, USA-based singer, song writer, producer and visual artist who has recently released their second EP Evil Ghosts. Written and produced during a stint living in Iceland, the four track EP seems to capture some of the starkness of the country’s unique landscape.

By Graeme Smith

Opening with ambient sounds of wind and ship horns, title track Evil Ghosts quickly hits a gentle, sway-inducing acoustic groove. Sam’s vocals are instantly arresting, soulful and conveying an indescribable depth. Melancholia meets reassurance in a strong start.

Canada has a more expansive sound, introducing elements of soul, blues and country in a slowly building instrumental arrangement. The track was written about a trip to British Columbia and drips with a rich sense of nostalgia.

Horses canters along at a steady trot with an experimental electronic soundscape. It channels ’60s psychedelic influences and makes them feel highly contemporary. It feels quite unlike the EP’s first two tracks and showcases the breadth of Sam’s sound. It’s a highlight.

The EP closes with ..In Waves. In many ways it feels like a mix of the styles we’ve seen so far, with echoing country influences, electronica and touches of ambience. Emotionally it ties up the EP well too, with an undercurrent of sadness tempered with hints of a brighter tomorrow.

Evil Ghosts provides a wonderful window into the world of Sam And The Sea. There’s such a rich tapestry and range on display across its nuanced four tracks. Most importantly, it feels deeply personal and there’s no shortage of genuine emotion running through its lyrics and instrumental arrangement. With this evidence to go off of, I’m very excited about what Sam’s upcoming album will bring. I hope you’ll agree. You can listen to the whole of Evil Ghosts EP below.