Liverpool Sound and Vision 9/10
Light the blue touch paper and step back far enough so you don’t feel the scorch marks as the rocket takes off, take care when handling the explosive, the 12-track piece of dynamite provides, and admire fully the magnificence on display, the sense of eruption, the upsurge in heat as you decree that the eruption of sound that accompanies the spectacle should go Faster.
For in that sound lays the soul of one of the most exciting musicians and lyric writers of the era, a woman who is comfortable in tackling issues near to her heart as she is as is making a statement of unity in all causes that have become part of the fabric, the watchwords, of our society.
Samantha Fish’s latest album, Faster, sees the Kansas City musician take a stride, a lengthy but important pace further into the hard-edged mantra of her music, one that is fiercely adamant, and yet as soft as silk draped over temperature ready chocolate, and what transpires is an album of luxury, of passion, of blistering fuel injection and which lights up the sky in a blaze of colour and fortune.
You might not think you’re in Kansas anymore, that is more than okay, as Samantha Fish’s name has grown strong as she pushes the boundaries of her craft in such a delightful way that the listener cannot but help feel emotional as they take in tracks such as All Ice No Whiskey, Hypnotic, Crowd Control, the excellent So-Called Lover, Like A Classic, Loud, which features fellow Kansas City stalwart TECH N9NE, and the album’s stirring, indeed dangerously beautiful and hot-headed title track, Faster.
It has all been progressing to this moment, through her now illuminating back catalogue to this moment of sheer joy and hard-hitting firework music display, and the beauty of it is that there is arguably, surely, no end to this delivery, the salvo of words and fiery guitar will keep coming, will keep raining down upon the delighted crowd below.
Want to go Faster, want to feel the thrill of the rapid and the deliberate, then there is nowhere to hide, you just have to let Samantha Fish take you on the wild and intimate run.
Ian D. Hall