Faster
Faster takes Samantha Fish's guitar-led songs into a brighter, more produced setting. Blues remains part of the sound, but pop rhythms, electronic touches and soul melodies share the space. Working with producer Martin Kierszenbaum, Fish puts the hooks closer to the front. The record is strongest when that change gives her singing and guitar a fresh role in a clear, compact song.
The title track makes a confident opening. A bluesy riff and melodic keyboards support a chorus with enough movement to show the range in Fish's voice. The guitar solo adds feeling without interrupting the song's pace. All Ice No Whiskey pushes the pop side further, using backing vocals and keyboards to brighten a groove that still has a firm guitar presence.
Twisted Ambition is another effective meeting point. Its mid-tempo rhythm and strong vocal hook make it easy to follow, while the guitar gives the polished setting a harder edge. Crowd Control moves closer to straight pop before a rougher solo changes the pressure. Fish sounds comfortable letting the arrangement do some of the work before stepping forward.
Imaginary War is more direct, built around a forceful bass line and heavier blues-rock playing. It gives the album a useful change of weight. Loud takes a less predictable route, starting quietly and building towards a guest appearance from Tech N9ne. The rap section is a clear break from the surrounding material, even though the gradual build helps prepare for it.
Not every listener will welcome that wider reach. The polished sound can make the rougher parts feel carefully contained, and the move into hip-hop is more striking than the smoother transitions elsewhere. Those choices give Faster a distinct character, but they also make it less consistent as a simple blues-rock record.
That is an acceptable trade when the songs have this much energy. Fish keeps the melodies strong and the guitar recognisable, even when the production changes the setting around them. Faster is a confident attempt to open up her sound, with several hooks that make the experiment easy to enjoy.
