Sam Beam of
Iron and Wine has never been averse to collaborating with like-minded artists, and he seems to have found an especially simpatico musical partner in
Jesca Hoop. He and the musically shape-shifting
Hoop co-wrote and recorded a batch of songs together. The result, 2016's Love Letter for Fire, is an album that shows both performers to their best advantage. For
Beam,
Hoop's clever melodic conceits and rich, free-spirited vocal and guitar style bring some fresh flavors to his repertoire. For
Hoop, the full-bodied strength of
Beam's vocals and guitar work gives her a mooring that keeps her airier ideas from drifting away. And together, they're superb duet partners, harmonizing with a skill that brings out the best in each singer and serves these 13 songs beautifully. If the tunes aren't wildly upbeat, the interaction of
Beam and
Hoop's voices emphasizes the humanity of his vision, and the best of this music manages to sound warm, gentle, and thoughtful without feeling bland. Drawing from '70s soft rock, more rustic Americana influences, and the sometimes mannered but emotionally honest tone of indie folk, the music is accessible but quietly adventurous. Producer
Tucker Martine has given these recordings a clean but well-balanced sound, with the studio band lending valuable color and texture to
Beam and
Hoop's work. (The players include
Wilco drummer
Glenn Kotche and former
Soul Coughing bassist
Sebastian Steinberg.) Collaborative efforts like this usually give musicians a chance to play around a bit with unfamiliar ideas. But Love Letter for Fire sounds like
Beam and
Hoop were born to work together. The yin and yang of their individual perspectives fit together marvelously, and this rests comfortably with the best of both their recorded works. [Love Letter for Fire was also released on LP.] ~ Mark Deming