samantha crain – a small death (2020)

A Small Death was born after Samantha Crain, almost implausibly, was involved in three car accidents in three months. After living without the use of her hands for years, Crain’s sixth full-length LP condensed the pain of not playing and of being out of step with the world and sharpened it with the equal difficulty of re-entering, changed. ‘Reunion’ sketches the protagonist outside a high school reunion in the rain, wondering if she ought to go in; if she’ll enjoy herself and if the booze and the dress were even worth buying. Poignantly, this record offsets its sore backward glances with resolute looks ahead.

A favourite: ‘Reunion’

26/30