This week’s PBS Feature Album is Hen's Teeth, the eighth full-length release from Iron & Wine.
The solo project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Sam Beam, Iron & Wine's Hen's Teeth arrives fully formed but sits as a sibling record to 2024’s acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated Light Verse. Its seeds were sewn during the multiple sessions done over the last few years in the foothills of LA with studio owner/engineer Dave Way (Fiona Apple, Jakob Dylan, Sheryl Crow) at the helm. The record features many familiar names from the Iron & Wine universe - David Garza, Sebastian Steinberg, Tyler Chester, Griffin Goldsmith, Beth Goodfellow, Kyle Crane and Paul Cartwright – lending their talents to a collection of songs that, while complementary in nature, had their own distinct feel.
The title Hen’s Teeth, much like the birth of this record, takes its inspiration as something that should not exist; a happy accident that fell out of enjoying the company of the aforementioned players in a setting that offered creativity and inspiration. As Beam states: “To me it suggests the impossible. Hen’s teeth do not exist. And that’s what this record felt like: a gift that shouldn’t be there but it is. An impossible thing but it’s real.”
Hen’s Teeth includes a few new, fresh voices; the GRAMMY-winning Americana trio I’m With Her - Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins - are featured on two tracks. The trio bring their harmonizing prowess to the ebullient track, “Robin’s Egg,” and in the tender, mournful “Wait Up” they make more with less on a song that is sure to become a fan favorite. The record also marks the recording debut of Arden Beam. Arden (one of Beam’s daughters) contributes harmonies and backing vocals on “Roses,” “Singing Saw,” “Defiance, Ohio” and “Grace Notes.” Her contributions lend a personal poignancy and a wonderful sonic texture to Hen’s Teeth.
Listen back to Iron & Wine's recent Studio 5 Live session on 5ft High & Rising here.
Watch the full Studio 5 Live set from Iron & Wine below:
Tune in all this week to hear tracks from Hen’s Teeth. PBS Members have the chance to win a vinyl copy of the album - simply email your name and membership number to before midnight Sunday March 22.
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TOP TRACKS WE'RE LOVING THIS WEEK
Aldous Harding - 'One Stop'
Hilary Geddes feat. Alex Inman-Hislop, Max Alduca and Matthew Harris - 'The Needling'
Zoltan Fecso & Anna Morley - 'Flight of Starlings'
Adam Halliwell - 'La Canzone Della Terra'
Huw Marc Bennett - 'Cân Gwasael' (Wassail Song)
Shewita - 'Too Soon'
Miles Nautu - 'The Front'
The Three Seas - 'Tone Shaman'
Jah Wobble & Jon Klein - 'Who Wins'
Kim Gordon - 'Play Me'
