LOVE

Amen Dunes work ranks high in my ‘most played stuff’ of the last two years. I've loved everything they have released so I'll admit to being slightly concerned about the big build up, music press attention in the lead up to ‘Love’ being released.I’ve always loved that lo-fi quality running through almost everything and again, being a far more produced album, would the cleaned up Amen Dunes still be as good as before to my ears?The honest answer is I’m not sure but I’ve now lived in the album for almost a week and I think it’s stunning. I think its a really honest and varied record. Damon McMahon who is more or less ‘Amen Dunes’ is laid more bare in this record and the lyrics are printed starkly inside the booklet. I’m not a listener that normally listens to lyrics but these words are both odd and often beautiful.Lilac In Hand is worthy of special mention as I think it sounds about as gorgeous as music could possible be. And White Child, Lonely Richard and I Can’t Dig It seem to be the tracks floating to the top in my expanding Amen Dunes playlist.Definitely an album to make time for.

My new favourite band - McMahon is a talent and for me this is a very good record with lovely folky, brooding moments - theres a lightness of touch to the heavy themes in his work - in some places the folk/psychedelic structuring of his music feels timeless and captivating. Im a big late 60s early 70s music fan and this guy somehow captures that kind of naked ambition in his song writing and style of recording.Theres a distance - almost mono- to the the way these albums (Love and THrough Donkey Jaw) have been produced which I think adds a brilliant dimension to the music - I kind of imagine Nick Drake would like how this artist puts together his records - especially bearing in mind the similar beauty to the music structure which clashes with heartfelt sometimes brooding - but not overly self absorbed - lyrics. He is an observer in his style too. Id go as far as to say that America does not realise yet that they have a great talent here,.....but thats how it should be with this kind of artist.......he is making the music he wants to hear and not for the industry. Or if not that....sometimes artists make music outside their comfort zone or taste and so they get a freshness to their sound......I mention that because I hear he likes r.nb and stuff like that......maybe the antithesis of your personal taste can provide a creative freedom you might not get from repeating the styles of your fave artists........anyway I babble...ive not researched that well about this artist........its all about the music....This is a good record - but THrough DOnkey Jaw feels more ambitious and works over the whole record for me personally, so Id get that first if I were you then this.THis morning when having a listen to his music I kind of imagined how it might sound somewhere like Glastonbury and because of that faint English Folk slant to his music I think it would be an amazing thing if it happened.Fave tracks - White Child, Lilac In Hand and my fave is Rocket FLare at the mo.....I think the first half of the record feels stronger.........Will get the cowboy record too soon because the sirens song sounds awesome....anyway highly recommended.

Great album. Really love it. This band was support for War on Drugs and I was blown away as to how good they were.

saw Amen Dunes at Liverpool psych fest and blew me away. a kind of psychedelic La's! Lonely Richard is the stand out track on a great album

The best album I have heard in a long time.