This is an exceptionally well made debut CD of mid-tempo country/folk (coming on rock) songs by a fine guitar player and song maker. BEN SWIFT recorded it in his own Massachusetts studios. When I say "country/folk" I really mean it’s adult music with an emphasis on the song and perfection in the production.
Ben is a guitar player and producer who uses a full range of acoustic and electric instruments (including a nicely played National Steel on "Miss You"). He gets some pro support from Mike Visceglia on bass, and Dour Yowell and Billy Ward on drums. Don Thompson was co-producer.
Each of the 14 songs has a character of its own – Swift can write and play more than well in pretty well any style. From the short and snappy poppish lift of "Happy Song" to the dirtier rock guitars of "Volcano" he has it all pretty well covered. His singing voice is on the neutral side – so tracks heard in isolation from another part of the room might not catch your attention. Less polished writing and less elegant playing would reach more people if the voice had a bit more muscle. As it is we do at least have a connoisseur's collection of introspective miniatures that I can imagine getting a good reception from Bob Harris on Radio 2.
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The most distinctively special song (for me at least) is the rolling acoustic tune of "Warm Hands and Bones". It does cry a bit more. But like the rest of the album its polite gentility is both its endearing quality and its disappointment.
www.benswift.net
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