Will Samson – Hello Friends, Goodbye Friends

Born in England, raised partly in Australia and now based in Berlin, Will Samson has moved around a good deal so far in his young life (he’s only 22). However it was a trip to Asia and the Himalayas which seems to have inspired this collection of songs, judging by the available bios (and the album’s cover art). The music itself consists of sparse instrumentation and Samson’s delicate vocals (somewhere between Justin Vernon and Peter Silberman). This isn’t an album full of surprises; there are very few changes of pace and the melancholic bedroom-style ambience is hardly novel, but it is undeniably pretty and absorbing. Overall it’s highly recommended, especially for listening during a quiet few moments on a good pair of headphones. Get it here via the Japanese label Nature Bliss.