Cam Kahin—When It's All Over

Cam is another artist I discovered thanks to the Ottawa FolkFest event I'm going to in September. Alas, he's not performing on the day I'm attending, but I wanted to check out the artists playing on the other days, and I'm glad I did. Hailing from Toronto, he's very much a creative force, serving as a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.

The album opens with compass, and from the start it's an audio treat. It starts slowly and builds into an infectious sound that cries out to be listened to.

what are you waiting for continues in a very radio-friendly fashion. There are hints of other influences, but they're distant and fleeting, all pulled together under Cam's control and stamped with his own creative spark. I have to admit, though, in the chorus I kept hearing something that didn't make sense. The line is, "What are you waiting for? A purpose?" but that is definitely not what my ears were picking up.

With in, around, we're three songs in and the pace is unrelenting. It's like a keg of creative energy bundled up and unleashed, and you're being swept away on the back of someone's journey. try again keeps the thrill ride going, and you're left almost begging for a brief pause, a chance to catch your breath.

And as if he can read my mind, we get that lull and brief respite with birds. It may be a pause, but even it can’t help but build into a heavier, angrier, more tortured sound.

skeleton song is the true lull that birds only teased. And this time we get some accompanying vocals. The last minute of the track has a great repeated acoustic guitar line with some lovely layered sounds on top. Honestly, I could listen to that section way longer than the one minute we're given.

nicotine is loud, brash, and the perfect contrast to the previous track. There's a lilting quality in the chorus that offers a moment to breathe, with a sympathetic tone, but it's quickly overtaken again by a sound that refuses to be held back.

The album ends with skeleton song again, this time featuring Anna Sofia. I'm guessing she did the backing vocals on the earlier version, but here her voice is much more front and centre. It might seem like an odd choice, given that the same song was only a couple of tracks ago, but I don't mind — it gives me another chance to enjoy that final glorious minute all over again.

Cam Kahin has been quite the find. It's not often I come across an album so full of energy and confidence. It grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the very end.