Ben Glover is not just a good looking chap with a guitar in hand, no no no, he is a good looking chap with a guitar in hand, great songs and a hell of an album to sell at gigs.
..Glover recorded new album Before the Birds in Nashville with producer Nelson Hubbard. Naturally when one finds a suitable and stellar workmate, a just relationship is formed where the producer can draw out the very best in the artist. And he did, because 'Before The Birds' is simply stunning. It's one of them more you listen to, the more you hear type of records, each song unveiling parts of Glover that he has laid bare.
His voice is also more heart felt and has developed a slight husky growl that gives his vocals an endearing charm. Opener 'Trick Of The Light' sets the tone for the entire album. The approach seems to be a less is more from the sparse instrumentation to the main focus being put on the vocals this time around and it works really well. Each track is allowed the space to envelope the listener and has a soothing and lasting effect.
It's definitely a laid back dinner party record but it's also a long drive on a summers day 'lets all be glad about what we have' - type of album as he evokes a happy, hopeful chemistry throughout.
There are stand out tracks that could hold their own on certain evening and night time radio shows, such as 'Trick of The Light' and 'To Believe'. But I don't see it sitting well between Beyonce and The Script on daytime/morning mainstream radio, as it's just not cast with the same iron, which is not entirely a bad thing either, in a commonplace where artists are slashing around at their integrity to write songs suited for radio it's always refreshing to find a songwriter that remains true to himself without sacrificing too much of his art. Besides, Glovers sound has a familiarity to it, he is like an old friend whom you will listen to when he speaks, this is an artist who can demand your attention as he HAS something to say.
a fine album well worth checking out.
8/10
