Although geographically we're still in West Yorkshire, elegant singer/ songwriter BENJAMIN WETHERILL is many miles removed stylistically from the current crop of pop contenders mushrooming in the area.
Self-released two-track single "Orange & Silver" is a discerning introduction to a singular young writer, too. The title track is delicate, fragile and acoustic, and finds Benjamin caressing hopelessly smitten lyrics such as "You fall in my arms and I'm lost again", while Fran Rodgers discreetly doubles up the harmonies. It's old-fashioned, romantic and lovelorn and as much of a swoon as a song, but that's absolutely fine.
His reading of old traditional English folk tune "John Barleycorn" is worth the price of admission too. The nimble finger picking perhaps inevitably recalls groundbreakers such as Bert Jansch, while Wetherill's happy-sad delivery recalls unfairly passed-over performers such as Harvey Andrews. Yet the otherworldly, drone-y treatment works well and retains its' own atmosphere, ensuring the overall effect is happily out of step with the kooky US folksters (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsome) who continue to clog the headlines. Clearly a pity when there are far more interesting characters such as Benjamin Wetherill lurking in the shadows.
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More please, as and when it's convenient.
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