Album Review: Alex Amen, Sun of Amen

If you didn’t know Sun Of Amen was the debut of Texas singer Alex Amen, you could be forgiven for believing it to be a lost recording from at least five decades ago. The timeless quality of his songwriting, combined with the old school arrangements, ensure these songs stir the ghosts of John Denver and Gram Parsons, while tipping their cap to more recent artists like Ray LaMontagne, and even Father John Misty at his less ironic.

The 26-year-old has had an unusual life since leaving Texas eight years ago, living on a Californian commune, an island in Washington’s Puget Sound, and even in a trailer on the property of a famed Hollywood composer. He powerfully distils all this experience into these songs, which sound like the fruits of a much longer life.

‘Cabin By The Sea’, in particular, comes on like an old-time country standard, Amen’s voice the sound of an old soul, while the boom-tish of ‘Please Don’t Tell Me You Love Me’ is prime-time Nashville. The gloriously melancholy ‘Diamonds’, the country sway of ‘California Blues’ and the infectious lilt of ‘Her Spirit Wanders’ could be outtakes from the aforementioned LaMontagne, which is a serious compliment.

Elsewhere, the heart-aching ballad ‘Memories Of You’ channels the spirit of classic ‘70s piano-man, Billy Joel, while the closing, string-soaked ‘Lonely People’ is like Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ channelled through a Josh Tillman filter. These are country-tinged and soulful blues tunes from an artist who’s arrived fully formed and ready to break hearts.

• Out now