Album Review: Despair & Love

If you are a fan of unique arrangement and raw storytelling, then Christchurch based independent musician Samantha Josephine could be right up your alley. Despair & Love is her 4th album, showcasing her underground sound of offbeat alternative low-fi punk. 15 tracks of unconventional and distinct songs. Dive in with an open mind.

There is no fluff or fillers to Samantha’s sound, what you hear is exactly what you get. Her music is unapologetically divergent, completely stripped back to core components.
Unusual arrangement matched with a distinctive vocal style create a certain charm in Samantha’s rudimentary delivery. Her sound will either speak to you. Or it won’t. An acquired taste, worthy of a few listens before you pass judgment.

A range of musicians have been peppered through previous reviews, which have been used as a comparison of her music style. From Lou Reed through to Patti Smith and Courtney Barnet. Personally, I thought there was a touch of Bob Dillon in the mix.

There is a total lack of embellishment on Despair & Love, abstract and unusual, so refreshingly different that you could be left wondering what you are hearing.

The title track Despair & Love sets in motion the album listing with simple guitar strumming accompanied by unconventional vocals that admittedly do have a Patti Smith quality about them. From the offset you can hear Samantha Josephine is a storyteller with her heart on her sleeve and no point to prove.

As you move through this album, particularly on Run From Me and Can A Lady Take Off A Shirt there is a slight disconnect between guitar and drum further adding intrigue to the somewhat off key vocals.
There is a quirky element to the music on this album. Original and slightly off beat in places. You may be forgiven in thinking a few of the songs are out of tune, I think this adds to the eccentric curious sound.

An esteemed former colleague in the music reviewing realm once said “this is anti-pop, music which has a soul and honesty all its own” that is as true in 2025 as it was in 2021, Despair & Love stays true to Samantha’s creative process, the entire album as real and honest as you can get.

Production on this album is rudimentary; however I personally feel this adds to the originality of the overall sound. There is eccentricity touching every track, but to me that’s what makes it peculiarly mesmerizing.

Despair & Love is the very definition of original indie New Zealand music.