There are some albums that feel like spiritual excursions the moment they start, transfixing us instantly at the right time and place. Amen Dune’s fifth record, Freedom, is one such record. The introduction informs us that the time is now, and it belongs to Damon McMahon and his finely tuned songwriting. Each track is impeccably produced, precise and imperious, as synths and bass lines appear on the horizon before shimmering out of view. The interplay between each instrument is like multiple generations of mirages materializing at once, and McMahon’s vocals sit in the center commanding attention with assured confidence in the stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Freedom was released wholly realized, yet it’s the undefinable aspects that assert why it’s an intoxicating and infinitely rewarding album. -Tucker Pennington
