aaamusic | On 04, Mar 2012

AM & Shawn Lee is a musical collaboration between London’s Shawn Lee and New Orleans/ Los Angeles’ AM. Both are musicians in their own right, AM’s first album “Future Sons & Daughters” was released to critical acclaim and saw him tour with Air and Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2010. Shawn Lee, a self proclaimed “groove-master” is a multi-instrumentalist known for his Latin influence and pop- based beats.

The collab between AM and Shawn Lee has resulted in a 60s funky sound that is quite different to anything we have heard from either before. Shawn Lee’s psychedelic beats and groove based sounds blend well with AM’s surf-pop style and sweet tones.

“Lonely Life” is maintains AM’s signature cool-rock sound, with Shawn Lee laying a base of electro pop sounds that blend well with AM’s falsetto tones. “City Boy” includes the use of a bluesy guitar riff throughout which gives the song a jazzy feel and an impossibly catchy sound- despite there being no real build up to a chorus.

“Can’t Figure it out” is one of the more indie based songs on the album, the echoey beats work well with the level melody and sombre mood of the song “ In the night I had a dream/ That the innocent would win”.

Many songs on this album such as “Jackie Blue” and “Callahan” are summer tunes with a retro 70’s vibe, however AM and Shawn Lee have managed not to make this album all about the nostalgia- the subtle electronic touches throughout keep this album contemporary.

 

Orna Lyons