Released: 20th February 2025
Published By: Polydor
After a four-year break, the UK musician Sam Fender has returned with the very impressive People Watching. It taps directly into his strengths while carrying strong thematic weight.
Since his debut in the late 2010s, Sam Fender has skyrocketed in popularity; his music is uncompromising, reflective and imbued with the artist’s northern roots. Seventeen Going Under was an energised album that tapped into his youth and upbringing; People Watching offers an introspective tone on a larger scale. With forty-eight minutes of music, we’re treated to a blend of quiet lament and determination. The title track opens up with a bridge between albums; the pacing is faster and more upbeat as Sam heads home, taking note of the people and the signs of the times. Saxophone lovers will find another superb instrumental that pulls the listener in. From here, Fender dives headlong into a wide range of rhythms.
“Nostalgia’s Lie” has a very apprehensive feel as the singer questions the place he grew up and what it means every time he returns to it. The song also fades in directly from the opening, taking us on Sam’s journey. Other efforts feel weightier with “Wild Long Lie” relying on a booming piano to complement the guitar riffs. It’s the kind of song that works great for a low-lit evening atmosphere. Sam also examines the free-wheeling lifestyle of partying and drugs. With “Arms Length” and “Rein Me In”, he sings about his connections with others, mistakes made and other memories. The latter boasts the smoothest rhythm of the set. Fender’s music has always felt very personal and People Watching never loses sight of this. The working class and the difficulties they endure are often put front and centre.
Sam hasn’t forgotten about his roots and frustrations with modern politics either. “Crumbling Empire”, much like “People Watching”, takes aim at the establishment and those who have been left behind in society. It utilises a steady piece with a more solemn turn. Tracks like these represent the artist’s soulful side which contrasts with the more traditional rock. In keeping with the main focus, the album art was produced by photographer Tish Murtha who previously documented marginalised communities in Newcastle. “Remember My Name” closes the album with a powerful tribute to Sam’s grandfather who suffers from dementia. It strips back the instrumentation in favour of more reverential trumpets. Going through hard times is the biggest theme of the album and every track will resonate.
People Watching is surely an early contender for year-end lists. Sam Fender is one of the finest UK musicians working today and his latest release is filled with brilliant writing and varied compositions. You owe it to yourself to check out the album and all the excellent tracks contained within.
Rating: A
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