23-year-old Ben Howard was raised in the West Country, neatly nestled between the moors and the sea. Having grown up surrounded by nature, his stripped back sound feels all the more authentic and real, as though each pick of the strings brings back tranquil childhood memories.
Old Pine, the title-track to the upcoming EP, nostalgically reminisces over youthful nights spent in the woods, settling down as the camp fire flickers down to its last embers, singing while the morning slowly brightens the world. With such descriptive charm it's hard for Ben Howard not to warm the bones of even the coldest city dwellers as they listen to these idyllic songs. Added to this are his comforting vocals and a tonality which draws comparisons to Jóse González or Nick Drake.
This EP, which is set for release on 23rd May via Communion, was recorded in a similar way to Bon Iver's acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago by making use of a creaking barn and thus adding even more rustic appeal to its four tracks.
Ben claims to be a man out of step with modern technology. He's given up the use of mobile phones after losing seven and is yet to buy himself a digital television. But despite feeling irksome about concepts like 'social networking,' his fan-base is ever growing and so is the number of online videos showcasing his highly regarded live performances. A list of tour dates is below. Be sure to catch him live if you can.
Words: Simon Butcher
Tour Dates
12th April - The Duchess, York
13th April - Moles, Bath
14th April - The Borderline, London
16th April - Joiners, Southampton
17th April - Glee Club, Birmingham
18th April - The Musician, Leicester
19th April - Arts Centre, Colchester
21st April - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh
22nd April - Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
23rd April - Woodlands, Stornoway
24th April - Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore
26th April - Ironworks Room 2, Inverness
28th April - Stereo, Glasgow
29th April - Riverside, Newcastle
7th May - Queens Hall, Pembrokeshire
5:12 AM | 21/04/2011
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all true, accept Ben Howard is much better than all the other artists named in this review put together!
Posted by kalebird at 1:14 PM | 22/04/2011 | Report Abuse
all true, accept Ben Howard is much better than all the other artists named in this review put together!
Posted by kalebird at 1:15 PM | 22/04/2011 | Report Abuse
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