In the congested world of singer songwriters, it takes something special to stand out and particularly to tread that careful fine line between genuinely heartstring tugging and James Blunt style foppishness.
The ever excellent Secretly Canadian label may just have found their man in Australian Ben Abraham.
The Melbourne based artist releases debut album Sirens and is the result of a 8 year process from writing his first song for a sick kid while working in a local hospital to touring with Emmylou Harris and finally getting quite some exposure from the likes of Zane Lowe.
The 13 track album is a ode to love, loss and growth, the usual singer songwriter tropes, but this is an enchanting listen and is a much more complex listen that other artists in this category. It’s not a case of one man and his acoustic guitar, but a much more coloured in album.
Lead single from the album You and Me, was debuted on Beats 1 radio, and is a perfect taster of what the album holds, ending as it does with some lush orchestration.
This is On Me is a track that starts with some simple piano, before Abraham goes on to describe a failed relationship where both parties are taking the blame for the breakup. Sara Bareilles plays the female part to gorgeous effect as the voices complement and intertwine with each other.
The album has many highlights so will be unfair to pick any out in particular, but again its a record to listen to as an entire piece of work on a good pair of headphones or speakers whilst not being distracted by anything else.
Abraham’s voice is beguiling and seductive, think somewhere between Peter Gabriel and Guy Garvey, and you won’t go far wrong. At it’s heart is an English folk album, but it’s much more than that which results is a gorgeous, calming listen. This guy should have a decent 2016.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
