There has been excitement brewing over this Vermont/New York artist for a while now, and a lot of anticipation for his Bedroom Community debut (his last was on Plug Research). “All Is Well” is a sublime collection that marks the emergence of a true talent, featuring great songs, beautiful singing and thoughtful production that blends lush, natural sounding acoustic tracks with subtle electronic textures. For fans of M.Ward, Nick Drake, Mark Hollis, etc.

Vermont/New York bard Sam Amidon's version of traditional American music falls somewhere between those of M.Ward and Nick Drake on his hauntingly beautiful new album, not as raw as Ward, nor as fragile as Drake, but sharing a similarly modern, individual take on traditional folk, blues and classic country forms. Amidon, who has previously worked with Doveman and Stars Like Fleas, has found the perfect collaborator in Nico Muhly, who fleshed out Amidon's wonderful, subdued singing, banjo, fiddle and guitar with so subtle yet so sweet arrangements, adding aching strings or abstract ambience or quiet piano overdubs that bring a depth to these simple songs that is utterly embracing. Now add guest appearances from experimentalists like Eyvind Kang and free-jazz drummer Aaron Siegel, and you have a gorgeous blend of sweet and sharp, light and dark, ease and edge that make this album an undeniable achievement and a triumph that will be hugely appealing to fans of the above-mentioned, as well as other moody geniuses like Mark Hollis or Antony and the Johnsons. [JM] (February 6, 2008)