Elly Roberts reviews
The Ben Reel Band: Time To Get Real
Distributed by
B. Reel Records
- Released: November 2009
- Rating: 8/10
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Another little gem from the Emerald Isle.
Irishman Ben Reel has consistently released solid albums over the past 10 years. My last CD encounter was 2007’s fabulous New Horizon.
Now on his fifth album, Time To Get Real, keeps that tradition well and truly alive with a dazzling collection of Americana crossover songs that ought to have ears pricking at all the ‘real music’ stations.
Reel has a penchant for ignoring fads and trends keeping the focus on real music which is why he’s become a cult artist in his native Ireland, though sadly he hasn’t been picked up as genuine singer-songwriter in the UK. Everybody in the business knows he’s hot stuff having supported Jools Holland, Alabama 3, The Cranberries and stage star Michael Ball no less. The good news is he doing rather well in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
As an introduction to the album he’s released Feel Alive as a single.
The down and dirty groove has some sublime guitar licks carried by a great melody and his rough edged vocals.
This box of delights opens with a gentle country shuffle in the form of Rainy Night as the band moves with confidence and swagger, again with Reel dropping in some superb guitar breaks and a fine line in vocal gymnastics including falsetto along with a Neil Young-like harmonica swish.
The introduction of songbird Julieanne Reek on the deliciously tender love ballad Summers Always Here only adds to the romantic mood. With a troubled heart he gushes with lyrics like – “You’re like the warm summer sun that’s rising / Feel your warm love in my heart / Melting away the cold ice of winter / The storms have passed / There’s a new life on the way.”
Embracing an eclectic mindset, Keep On Drivin’ takes on a C.C.Rider rockabilly hue drenched in honeyed vocals, stylish pedal steel, thumping basslines and wah wah, whereas Time Slips Away is deeply reflective, yearning for his childhood days and the onset of wisdom now he’s turned 35.
A heavy funky bass, rolling organ, and acoustic chords make Who You Are the albums catchiest song, with the main hook coming in the chorus.
For Old And Wise Reel delves deep into a more traditional Irish template which brings forward his wishes not to die a typical rock’n’roll death – “Don’t wanna overdose like a rockin-roll star /Or choke on my vomit after whiskey in the jar.”
By far the best song on the album, closes it – the stripped back dusty-bowl ballad Old Bog Road. Reverbed harmonica leads to gentle acoustic picks, chords slabs and wailing solos, on what is essentially a mournful ballad.
The verdict – Quality album.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
