Press play on Joe Sampsom’s new solo album, It Must Be Hard Seeing Me Like This, and you’re instantly transported into a different world. You may recognize Sampsom as the founder of Melted Ice Cream, or from bands like Best Bets (new album coming soon!), Salad Boys, and T54, but this album takes a refreshing turn. It feels like Sampsom rediscovered an old toy and breathed new life into it — in this case, a Zoom RT-123 Rhythmtrak, which he found packed with “ridiculous” preset rhythm tracks. Sampsom started experimenting, plugging in a homemade fiberglass electric guitar and pairing it with a vintage 1974 MXR Phase 100 pedal to create something truly unique.
Recorded sporadically over six years, the album is fully instrumental and plays out like the perfect video game soundtrack, with each of the 16 brief tracks feeling like a new level. For me, it’s the kind of album that induces hyperfocus, pulling me into a zone where time flies and I’m able to shut out the world while working. Hypnotic and ever-evolving, this is a mesmerizing journey of a record.
Out now on Tape at Sampsom’s own Melted Ice Cream label.
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