Today, Sam Beam moves forward with new freedom. “I don’t have as much to prove as I used to,” he confides. More relaxed, more open, he says he enjoys making music more than ever. This serenity permeates *Hen’s Teeth*, recorded in direct continuity with *Light Verse*, during the same sessions, after a long period of creative silence. The two albums share the same close-knit and complicit team: David Garza on guitar, Sebastian Steinberg on bass, Tyler Chester on keyboards, with Griffin Goldsmith, Beth Goodfellow, and Kyle Crane on drums. Paul Cartwright is responsible for the string, violin, and mandolin arrangements, bringing an organic depth to the whole. Conceived as two sister works, the albums echo each other without being confused. Where *Light Verse* is brighter, *Hen’s Teeth* explores more earthy, darker, denser, and tactile territory. Musically, the album shows a clear lineage with Van Morrison’s *Astral Weeks*, while also revealing influences of tropicalia and jazz. The collaborations enhance this rich sound: duets with the indie-country trio I’m With Her bring additional vocal delicacy, while the presence of Arden, Sam Beam’s daughter, on backing vocals and harmonies, adds a deeply intimate and luminous dimension to several tracks.