Sam Fender – Arm’s Length Review

Heartland rock with a bit of studio chatter preceding it, what is not to love? Sam Fender has, ultimately, chosen a somewhat safe route for People Watching. There is no denying the similarities in sound between this and Seventeen Going Under. But there is also an openness which keeps him interesting, and ensures his intensity as a performer remains. A definite read on the core, the meaning of the song right there for the taking, and yet Arm’s Length feels like a tremendous stadium pleaser. Blowing the speakers to tens of thousands while also maintaining intimacy is what Fender is best at, what made his shows at Glastonbury and St. James’ Park such a warm and receptive experience. Arm’s Length, as well as the tracks to come before it, keep this in mind. It makes all the difference as Fender is propelled to superstardom where heartfelt writing usually dries up.  

But for all the overexposure of rooted influences and still being a man in touch with his favourite places and people, it remains true. Fender has continued with a relatively dedicated interpretation of the locations and loves which formed him. Reflective as ever, and a welcome step towards a new instrumental sound. Not a saxophone to be heard, not in the main run, anyway. Slick fretwork is his new focus, hammering away on the guitar and questioning the intimacy all the while a harmonica sneaks its way in. Arm’s Length is a magnificent song not just because of what it changes but because of what it sticks with. Familiar tones are a fine line between repetition and revolutionary. Arm’s Length is the closest Fender has gotten so far to an abstract intensity. Slot yourself into the song but also maintain a distance, these are personable and effective tones, deeply moving material with an almost clinical edge. 

A lack of saxophone is not the only thrill. Neat harmonica and a steady percussion bring about this Northern Rock tone, a push for flickers of instrumental change. Preceding songs sound as though they were all set to boom with a new thrill, a sense of fresh direction. That is not the case. Instead, Fender continues with a near-identical sound to Seventeen Going Under. Where Arm’s Length may sound similar, the subtle changes and lyrical meanings which depend on avoidance and commitment will make all the difference for dedicated fans. In its constant questioning of another lover, this desire to be loved but not too much to be hurt, is a relatable and occasionally impressionable track. Arm’s Length takes on an all too literal notion with its title, with the very clear message. 

Clarity though is a useful tool when dealing with an ever-effective emotional core. Arm’s Length may make itself brutally obvious but sometimes the obviousness, the clear route through, is far harsher than obscurity. There is still an abstract notion to this latest Fender single, one which rips through the highs and lows of love with precision, but the facts and feelings are left up to a listener. It is an incredible balance and the instrumental shake-up is, on first listen, a relief, and then a realisation. Fender has found a sound which works for his message, and in turn, a meaning which can be maintained by fundamentally similar instrumentals. Great news for those who liked Seventeen Going Under, and at best, Arm’s Length teases a change to come, an instrumental itch which must be scratched further down the line.