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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
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Product Description
Review
He describes himself as a "keen surfer", and recently gave a series of beachside gigs in aid of keeping Britain's shores "barefoot-friendly", but if you're about to parkour your way to any conclusions, don't. Ben Howard most certainly isn't the "UK's answer to Jack Johnson".
What he is, on the evidence of this impressive debut album, is a gifted and immediately involving singer-songwriter. The 23-year-old from Devon - or "Devonshire", as his record company rather self-consciously refers to his home county - has pretty diverse musical tastes: he posts videos by artists as disparate as Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin and Robyn on his personal blog. However, it's the music of John Martyn and Bon Iver, both of whom he listens to "a lot", that has a tangible impact on his sound.
That's right, this fella's a folkie: his musical tools are nimbly-plucked guitar strings, near-choral backing harmonies, percussion that feels pastoral rather than processed, the evocative tones of India Bourne's cello. The term 'folk-pop' rather brings to mind JCB Song one-hit wonders Nizlopi, which Howard's music rather does not, but the lad does have a knack for a hook: with its sing-along chorus and positive sentiments, current single Keep Your Head Up could almost be called a "self-empowerment anthem".
Radio-friendly it may be, but there's nothing fey about Howard's folk: his up-tempo numbers have the muscular momentum of a galloping stallion, while his more subdued songs are underpinned by sinewy rhythms and a certain weightiness of theme. For example, the lovely Everything deals with the inevitability of renewal and change, while the slow-building and panoramic Black Flies is essentially a break-up song.
Whether he's singing about love or the world around him, Howard invariably taps the natural world for imagery: this is an album of horses and wolves, the wind and the sea, in which one's relative insignificance in the scheme of things is likened to being "just a blade in the grass". But what could seem clich�d on the page has resonance on record, thanks to the husky soulfulness of Howard's voice and the sheer good nature of his songwriting. By the time he uses the album's closing track to ask his paramour "Who am I to you?", you're really hoping her answer is "The One".
--Nick Levine
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, it finally arrives. All those people that have been waiting for this Album will now be sat blissfully listening to what is a musical gem. A simple album, with fine guitars, a fine unique voice and a great range of tracks. The famous 'The Wolves' track is a minute and half longer than the single version and is sandwiched either side by 9 other equally beautiful tracks. Kick back and enjoy....
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I heard Keep your head up on the radio whilst driving home (in a foul mood).
I don't usually like listening to the radio, nor do I ever like a track on first hearing it.
Neither of these were true here.
As soon as I got home, I had to make my husband find the track on the internet and listen to it whilst I went to Amazon to buy the song.
I bought the single but, was gutted to see that I'd have to wait for the album.
But, time's up and finally I could download it.
I hate to use the word catchy but, that's what happens with this music. It catches you, hooks you, gets right in there and sticks in your head.
I think this is going to be played over and over until I know every song word for word.
Fabulous.
I don't usually like listening to the radio, nor do I ever like a track on first hearing it.
Neither of these were true here.
As soon as I got home, I had to make my husband find the track on the internet and listen to it whilst I went to Amazon to buy the song.
I bought the single but, was gutted to see that I'd have to wait for the album.
But, time's up and finally I could download it.
I hate to use the word catchy but, that's what happens with this music. It catches you, hooks you, gets right in there and sticks in your head.
I think this is going to be played over and over until I know every song word for word.
Fabulous.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've just listened to this album for the first time. I'm thinking "this is lovely stuff, who does it sound like?"...then it clicked - turn the clock back a few years (decades?), add Christine and Stevie's vocals maybe, and you have a perfect Lindsay Buckingham/Fleetwood Mac album (well at least a good few tracks). No criticism of this at all, just interesting that no-one else has spotted this. Enjoy it in any case...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Made a nice change
I picked up this album on MP3 because it was in the folk chart on Amazon. I like folk music, to a degree, and from the song samples it sounded like it was worth a chance. Read more
Published 7 days ago by J. C. Chamberlain
Sublime singer-songwriter
I heard Ben Howard on Jules Holland's "Later" and after just one song, I was so captivated, I went on to Amazon to order the album immediately. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Caroline G
Absolutely brilliant!
Bought this album on a whim after having it recommended to me by a work colleague. After one listen I was entranced. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Ktsnow981
amazing album
i first heard one of his songs on an episode of house on sky and fell in love his music straight away. a very much chill out album.
Published 14 days ago by rich.pugsley
Beautiful
Every Kingdom is one of those albums that you can listen to the whole way through without skipping a single track. Read more
Published 21 days ago by evechar
ayerf
When i ordered it i had only heard old pine and wolves but when i played the album through i found that there isnt a bad track on the whole album. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ayerf234
Taps into my soul
This is one of my favourite albums, the more you listen to it the more you get it! It just gets better each time. Some people don't yet realise how amazing Ben and his band are. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sandy Page
Scraping the barrel!
Every Kingdom is such a good debut album that the prospect of a "de-luxe" edition with a CD of extra tracks and a DVD was met with positive expectations. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Callum Doone
magnificent!
Beautiful album gets stronger with each listen. The perfect summer album. Superb song writing performed by a very talented young man
Published 1 month ago by Quietestman
Outstanding!!
I am absolutley addicted to this album just a few days into buying it. It's a moment of pure genius. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carol Yates
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