Magnify (album)

Magnify is the fourth album from Irish rock band Ham Sandwich. It was released on 30 September 2022 and is the first album recorded by the band as a trio. The album received generally positive reviews and reached No. 11 on the Irish Album Chart.

Magnify
Studio album by
Ham Sandwich
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2022
Recorded2021–2022
StudioBlack Mountain Studios
Sun Studios
Genre
LabelRoute 109A Records
ProducerMichael Heffernan
Ham Sandwich chronology
Stories from the Surface
(2015)		 Magnify
(2022)

Production

Writing for the album began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the band's members were under lockdown restrictions, forcing them to collaborate remotely. The band initially planned to also record the album remotely, beginning with what would be the first single, "Electro-Wave". However, the delays that resulted from having to co-ordinate from different locations led the band to postpone recording until it was possible for the band to enter the studio together. This extra break before recording meant that the band spent more time refining the demo tracks than they typically would have done on previous albums.[1]

The track "Good Friday" was released as a single to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, with the title referencing the band's origins at a Good Friday party. As a tribute to the band's late manager, Derek Nally, the track also includes snippets of recordings of Nally speaking.[2]

Magnified, an EP consisting of stripped down versions of 4 songs from the album, was released on May 21, 2023. It featured cellist Ailbhe McDonagh on all tracks.[3]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hot Press7.5/10[4]
Irish Examiner[5]
The Spill Magazine[6]
Fortitude Magazine[7]

On its release, Magnify peaked at 11 on the Irish album charts.[8] It has received generally positive reviews in Ireland and the UK.

Kate Brayden, in a positive review for Hot Press, noted the new electronic influences in the band sound, as well as praising the band's signature dual vocals of Niamh Farrell and Podge MacNamee. Brayden singled out "Julian" and "Good Friday" as standout tracks, particularly the later for its poignant tribute to the band's late manager, Derek Nally.[4] Farrell and MacNamee's vocals were also singled out by Ljubinko Zivkovic in a review for The Spill Magazine, who was also impressed by Brian Darcy's guitar work.[6] Ed Power, writing for Irish Examiner, stated that the album was worth the wait after a seven-year gap since the band's previous album, and praised Farrell's vocals in particular on opening track "Electro-Wave".[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ham Sandwich

No.TitleLength
1."Electro-Wave"3:52
2."Julian"3:34
3."Run Run"3:37
4."Next Contender"4:13
5."Le Soleil"2:12
6."Fired Up"3:44
7."Work of Art"3:55
8."A Pact"2:58
9."All My Blood"3:12
10."Good Friday"4:23
Total length:35:44

Sources:[9]

Personnel
Ham Sandwich
  • Niamh Farrell – lead vocals, bass
  • Podge McNamee – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Brian Darcy – vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboards
Additional musicians
Production

Charts
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Irish Album Chart[8] 11

References
  1. Mason, Julie (17 October 2022). "IN CONVERSATION: HamsandwicH – God Is In The TV". God Is in the TV. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. "PREMIERE: HamsandwicH celebrate a remarkable 20 years with new video for 'Good Friday'". Hot Press. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. Ham Sandwich (May 21, 2023). "Ham Sandwich – Our 2nd EP of the year entitled 'MAGNIFIED'..." Facebook. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. Brayden, Kate (7 October 2022). "Album Review: HamsandwicH, Magnify". Hot Press. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  5. Power, Ed (29 September 2022). "Album Reviews: new music from Pixies and HamsandwicH". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. Zivkovic, Ljubinko (30 September 2022). "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HAMSANDWICH – MAGNIFY – The Spill Magazine". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. Pettipher, Eleanor. "Album Review: HamsandwicH – Magnify – Fortitude Magazine". Fortitude Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. "Discography Ham Sandwich". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  9. Magnify (booklet). Ham Sandwich. Route 109A Records. 2022. rou032.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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