SHAMIR
Homo Anxietatem (Kill Rock Stars)
Philadelphia-via-Las Vegas singer-songwriter Shamir uses an attention-grabbing, non-conforming vocal register to deliver the many corners and complexities of human emotion on sixth album Homo Anxietatem, whether that might be joy, anger, anxiety or a location far between.
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Like so many accidental indie gems, Shamir’s big break On The Regular was written within just 15 minutes. To compare, Our Song, single and third track took three months to complete. The spontaneity may have gone amiss after eight years and nine albums, but the now 28-year-old has kept the joyful, playful pop ecstasy. Yes – Shamir still doesn’t want to take themselves too seriously, something apparent from the wails heard across Without You to the blistering, sickly sweet jangly opener Oversized Sweater.
The delicacy of Shamir’s delivery is what makes Homo Anxietatem that much more intimate. Even with the intruding bed of high energy guitars behind, the slight wobble in Shamir’s vibrato feels like an insight into the songwriter’s emotional state at the time of writing.
words EMMA WAY