Sam Baird – Lines and Ripples (2020)
If you are looking for an album that covers a range of genres and styles, Sam Baird has you covered. His debut album Lines and Ripples is the culmination of his work over the years as he honed his creative skills. Showcasing the best of what he has to offer, the album is packed with interesting and diverse sounds to keep you entertained. The album includes the single ‘Feelings of Dying Alone’ which raised £600 for NHS Charities Together earlier this year.
While Baird is still quite young, his sound has been shaped and perfected over time. Drawing on influences such as Arctic Monkeys and swampy blues, he uses unique soundscapes to hook you. If you have never heard his music before, this album introduces you to everything he has to offer.
The album starts with ‘Intro 01’ which is only 30 seconds long. It is a progressive introduction to the album that draws you into the sound before you are hit with the next single. Not many albums have intro tracks anymore making the album unique from the get-go.
‘So Sweet’ hits you with a pounding guitar line from the first second. This sound has an almost ominous tone lurking in it. Baird’s vocals add to this feeling as he draws you into the lyrics of the track. The thundering melody perfectly complements his performance and helps you get lost in the song. His performance moves from that ominous opening to something completely different as the song progresses.
The opening of ‘Drifting’ has an airiness to it that helps you float to the melody. This gives way to a fairly funky beat. The vocals add to the funky tone of the song as Baird’s performance offers an interesting flow. The chorus captivates you and draws you further into the song. There is an easiness to this song that allows you to drift to the vibe.
‘Wobbly Business’ takes a completely different turn as you are thrown into an almost folky vibe. There is a lilting feeling to the melody that you can easily sway to. The change in sound for this song really highlights the versatility Baird is capable of. The guitar-driven melody has some shuffling drums and light notes that are wonderful to listen to.
The easy vibe of the last song is thrown out the window for ‘Not Tonight’. This song has a punchy melody full of electric guitars and featuring some amazing guitar riffs. The deep drums accentuate the almost punk style to the vocals. There is an infectious energy to this song that makes you want to move to the beat.
The next track ‘Intro 02’ is an intermission type song. Like ‘Intro 01’, it is only 30 seconds long but creates this great break in the album. The light twinkling tones are easy to listen to and you just float for the short track.
‘Times Up’ hits you with these deep beats and Baird’s vocals from the first moment. There is an almost bluesy-jazzy vibe to the melody. The vocals are both grounded and soaring which makes the song really interesting. The melody turns into a more melodic flow later in the single allowing you to float to it. There is something great about the changes in the melody and vocal performance that make this song so much fun to listen to.
The synths in the opening of ‘Wide Sally’ send you in a new direction compared to the rest of the album. There is an electronic haziness to this song as you bounce to the melody. The synth notes give way to a guitar at times for these soaring riffs that add a strange pause in the overall melody. There is a very interesting arrangement to this song and you never really know what is going to happen next.
‘High at 2AM’ uses deep rock beats to grab your attention before the guitar really hooks you. The rock vibe continues with the vocals that draw you into the story of the lyrics. The chorus of this song is quite infectious and you can easily sing along. The flow of the song is easy to get lost in as you are built up along the verses for the lively chorus.
Baird’s vocals open ‘My Open Sea’ with some questioning vibes. The guitar-driven melody creates this solid platform for the vocal performance and lyrics. There is something imploring in the vocals that perfectly match the lyrics. There is a moment when the melody drops to a whisper which is a great device to bolster the lyrics and emotion of the track.
‘Painfully Aware’ brings some of those rock vibes back, but there is a different vibe to them. This song is more melodic rock than driving guitars. The guitar lines are gentle and propel you into the vocals. You can easily relax with this song playing as you drift into the melody and let the vocals pull you along. This is potentially my favourite track on the album.
There is an intricate guitar melody resting below the vocals on ‘We Knew Better’. Baird’s vocals draw your attention for most of the track, but that acoustic guitar is worth listening to. There is an interesting interplay between the vocals and the guitar as they weave together for this song. Overall, this track has a very mellow vibe to it.
The album ends with ‘Feelings of Dying Alone’ which has been released as a single. The pulsing tone of the opening gently draws you to Baird’s vocals. There is a sadness to this song, but it is a lightly brushed emotion that does not throw you into a deep depression. The crash of guitars sends you into a tailspin after the soft opening, but the guitar line is wonderful to listen to.
Sam Baird showcases everything he has to offer with his genre-defying debut album Lines and Ripples. Each track on the album is completely unique and hits a different chord. You never know what style you will encounter next, but each is handled with amazing finesse.
Find out more about Sam Baird on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
