Blow Up (Italy) Review
FOLKE SONGWRITING
Benjamin Folke Thomas – Benjamin Folke Thomas - CD Bucketfull of Brains – 6 tracks – 22:02
To celebrate their new music label, legendary Bucketfull Of Brains has chosen another talented newcomer: Ben Folke Thomas, a Swede living in London, 21 years old but already an established name in the local folk scene, a past as the drummer of a grunge band that, inspired by Cobain’s version of Where did you sleep last night? (the circle closes), decided to pick up the acoustic guitar and become a songwriter.
The first good news is: the Swede doesn’t want to overdue things. Only six tracks that go by like fresh water and at the end it is a pleasure to start all over again.
The second good news is: Benjamin has got talent. Laid-back vocals, good songs and an incredible attention for the details of the sound: perfect arrangements, with Thomas’ fingerpicking in evidence, lap steel and mandolin and a wonderful female voice (Ange Boxall) supported by a rhythmic session that takes the reins when needed (the swinging country of Nothing Next To You, that smells of rural afternoons and grass just cut).
Timeless music, that could have been recorded in a parallel universe where time has stopped forever in ’72-’73. A bit of Dylan, Cohen, Tim Hardin, a lot of Americana and a pinch of acoustic blues that reminds of Mississippi John Hurt (Four letters).
All here is simply beautiful. And the best arrives at the end: Paradise lost (Heaven Found) for voice and guitar, and the promise of a shining future.
(7/8) Roberto Curti
Kindly translated by Trent Miller
More info here
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