:: Ben Birchall - Year Of The Monkey

Ben Birchall

Since the break-up of Klinger, Ben has released a seven-track EP. These songs have been written over a long period of time and have a mostly relaxed, back-to-basics feel. The combination of Ben and acoustic guitar invite a warm feeling. He stretches his vocal muscles a little more although he doesn't sway too far from the pop sensibilities of how his old band was known. “Empty Bars” epitomises the fun sound. The songs contain good structures with a string and brass instruments accompanying him to reinforce the pop vibe. There is even an adept accordian moment on “Cold, Tired, Free”. The band backing him is The Corrections and they complement his voice well. Ben is a good songwriter and I'm sure we haven't seen the best from him yet.