The Ams – The Release Of An American Soul (Shields Records)
I think a band run down might help considerably here. Frank and Anna Carey are siblings, and by the sound of it, they might have started making music in the nursery. Any development made since then retains a playful, almost disrespectful edge, which is evident in their work here. They disguise their depth with a childlike approach to the proceedings at times, and you will have to judge for yourself if it works or not.

It is a bit of a surprise package; make no mistake, an almost gleeful spilling of noise at times, as if they cannot quite contain their own enthusiasm to get things done.

The opening instrumental appears to be emulating one of those lesser space movie soundtracks of the 1980s, until the final few seconds, which could have been lifted from an episode of The Clangers. That then leads us into a solo male voice taking charge, with just simple piano accompaniment (like a one finger exercise). Then keyboards pop up, and the song continues in this vein. It ends, and a variety of instruments appear in the background, and you’re kept on your toes by the mixed arrangements, the twists of melody, and the odd lead vocal phrasing. All the while this duo chew their way through some very deep, very strange lyrics indeed.

It’s an interesting work, and for me it’s all summed up on “Godspeed Your Safe Return”, which follows a primitive Caribbean(?) drum beat, whilst the vocals are strident, almost harsh, in their bid to save a soul dear to the singer. A light calypso drumming and a severe vocal shouldn’t work really, but The Ams pull it off, no question, making it an album highlight, for me.

You might have to work at this one before you finally get to the album’s core, and allow its deeper meaning to penetrate, but that effort will be rewarded.
www.myspace.com/theamsworld

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