Sam FENDER - People Watching, gatefold 'blue yolk' coloured vinyl LP (indie exclusive)

The new candidate for the nicest guy in rock, Sam Fender has built a reputation for writing about touching subjects. And his new album, produced by none other than The War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel, doubles down on that approach. The chamber rock ballad 'Remember My Name' is written from the perspective of his late grandad, nursing his grandmother, who was suffering with dementia. It's a real tear-jerker thanks to the ornamentation in the arrangement and Fender's soaring vocals. The title-track is a another stand-out here and much more upbeat - like light and day compared with the harrowing feel of 'Remember My Name'. You can hear Adam Granduciel's influence here and in some ways, it sounds like a sequel to The War On Drugs' 'Under The Pressure', which is no bad thing.