Album Review: Pam Amsterdam ‘Confines’
Words: Sam Walker-Smart
It’s not every day that a near-middle-aged jazz trumpeter reinvents himself as a sardonic, genre-hopping rapper — but Leron Thomas, aka Pam Amsterdam, is no ordinary musician. With a résumé that includes collaborations with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Robert Glasper, Amsterdam now splits his time between indie darlings Metronomy and the Godfather of Punk himself, Iggy Pop. With a conversational flow and lyrics that often verge on observational comedy, admirers of MF Doom will appreciate his sentence-heavy, food-obsessed style.
Confines, Amsterdam’s fourth full-length release and his debut for London indie label Heavenly Records, builds on two decades of boundary-pushing. Twenty years ago, he moved from the boundaries of the jazz scene with his Dirty Draws series, and this new record feels like the natural continuation. It’s still rooted in hip-hop and jazz, but expands with threads of electro, rock, and R&B. It’s easily Amsterdam’s most intricate and fascinating production to date.
The album kicks off with the pulsing “Day Out,” a bouncing opener that sees Amsterdam taking a more direct approach than usual. Sure, he’s still rapping about calamari and tacos, but the funky drum loops and icy synths offer a refreshing backdrop. “Evening Drive” brings the trumpet back to the forefront, layering a smoky beat with a nocturnal edge. It’s atmospheric as hell, with Amsterdam casually name-dropping Chuck Norris and Street Fighter’s Chun-Li before breaking into a mournful solo.
Dedicated to his father, who passed during its creation, Confines carries a melancholic thread that sets it apart from Amsterdam’s earlier work. The humor is still there in places. Amsterdam remains one of the wittiest lyricists out there, but a deeper introspection lingers beneath the surface. Sonically, the album is meatier, bolder, and more expansive. Its most experimental moment comes with “Plus One,” featuring the aforementioned Iggy Pop. A sparse, eerie spoken-word track, it finds Pop’s iconic growl riffing on Colgate, orgasms, and daggers. What could have been a throwaway track becomes the record’s most compelling moment.
There’s still plenty of fun to be had, though. “White Ninja” is smooth as hell, packed with outlandish lines that might make you spit out your drink. “Fashion Week” tackles the awkwardness of making eye contact during a threesome, while “Pai Mei” leans into ’90s beats as Amsterdam name-checks The Five Stairsteps’ “O-o-h Child.” It’s meta, wild, and full of surprises.
For longtime fans, Confines marks a clear level-up, both in label backing and sound. Everything you already love about Pam Amsterdam is still here, but now executed with a new level of dexterity and polish. For new listeners, this is an ideal entry point. Confines is soulful, exciting, and just tonnes of fun. These are 12 tracks that demand your full attention, preferably with a drink in hand and a big, dumb grin on your face. It’s Amsterdam’s finest moment yet.