Ben Stafford - Happier Today Review
Stafford’s return is a kind and charming piece on the banishing of resentment and of looking to the future.
Booming back to the scene with his new work on a summertime silver plater is Stafford’s ‘Happier Today’: a warm tribute wrapped in a smooth 80’s nostalgia sound and dedicated to the contentment with moving forward and looking onwards.
Slowly making it’s way in with a rise into acoustic guitar and rapid backing piano, ‘peace sign and a crescent moon’ is a charmingly fond, June-ish melody, complimenting the childlike humming evocative of teenage jam-outs with friends in the younger years of life. This track, by nature of it opening the LP, also begins the theme found throughout. The title, for example, brings to mind the hippyish symbology that one could imagine held dear by, or is tattooed on, a past love that Stafford sings about throughout this work. This, in conjunction with the heartfelt sound, draws ones attention to loves of summers gone-by, relating the listener to the vibe this LP continues to demonstrate. Although, perhaps I may be projecting…
With Stafford’s next couple tracks ‘Think Of You (All The Time)’ and ‘YOU’RE DOING IT!’ feel as though they’re semi-motivational sounding tunes. Very pleasant, catchy, with backing keys that that are almost reminiscent of Segal in his earlier works. This bubbly yet erratic vibe is perfect for expanding upon the already mellow vocals that Ben has demonstrated throughout his work, and is a welcome development from his earlier releases.
As a contrast, Ben’s following track on the LP adopts a more seren tone whilst keeping and expanding upon the sweet sound cultivated in the first three pieces. Each of the backing instruments develop into a sonic core together from at once a cacophony into a fair and sweet vibe, to which the lyrics balance atop of.
Followed with the track ‘Happier Today’, the introduction of darling violins (and possibly other strings) weigh in and swell with no rush to the musical progression; much as Ben sings of moving-on & progression with life after a seperation despite not wanting to get on. He states that it’s ‘nice to see you’re fine, it’s nice to see I’m trying’, a feeling that is entirely represented in the happy-go-lucky and bittersweet nature of the piece, with the song ending as abruptly as a chance meeting with a former love can do, both trying to escape an awkward situation but content to know there aren’t any resentments.
The nature of this LP thematically is on being ‘Happier Today’ after the losing of love, at least that’s one interpretation of it. The final track, however, I believe is the culmination of this theme. ‘Looking Forward’ is about closure in both essence and in structure. Ending the LP, as well as ending the substantive feelings of loss, of the constant thinking, and (of course) of looking back. It can be seen as finding acceptance and relief where once there was none, and upon this revelation, forgetting the past, letting go of lingering feelings, and marching on. And how better to do it than whilst listening to an 80’s sounding indie joy ballad.