Ben Stafford - Thoughts and Feelings Review

Ben Stafford’s new release is his own brand of neon-dipped folk with smooth lyricism and smoother synths.

Continually surprising his listeners, multi-instrumentalist Ben Stafford’s latest album threads the line between genre and transcends expectation. His past work already having been met with high acclaim, Stafford had a lot to live up to.  When experimenting with a new sound, an artist can be subjected to countless pitfalls that may alienate the regular listener; in this case, Ben seems to have exceeded his past work with major success. Always one for gorgeous lyricism and soft guitar backing tracks, the new introduction of synth-wave resonance throughout the album gives Ben’s words a greater meaning. A nostalgic longing that leaves you cosy comes from his use of 80’s sounding retro guitar licks and keyboard reverb, this album is the perfect combination of Joni Mitchell bluesy-folk lyricism and a backing track that’s dripping in neon.

‘PINK AND BLUE’, this album’s opening track, sets the pace with wavy overtones.  With vocals almost akin to a school assembly, only sung with a voice that is much more sure of its ability, Stafford delivers a sweet yet heartbreaking song.  Soothing and electronic but instantly catchy, this bold departure from his already developed sound takes his audience with him in a completely new direction and is a perfect entry to this new release.  If you like this one, you’ll love what’s to come.

Aptly named, Ben’s follow-up track, ‘MORE AND MORE’, expands on his retro-futuristic notes only now with a far deeper, darker tone.  Although the longer drawn-out synths are evocative of a colder feeling, his lyrics are warm, representing a dichotomy that appears in this album between the sweetness of his words and their delivery.  Take for example the backing drumbeat that splits the track in two: before the drumbeat, Ben’s vocals could be mistaken for sermonising in a faraway echoing hall. After the beat is introduced, However, the song takes on fluorescent pop, taking the listener from feeling like an interrupting presence to a welcomed guest.

Almost new-wave in his experimental use of wavy instrumentals, Stafford’s track ‘TAKE CARE’ is his most comforting piece.  This, hand-in-hand with the easy-on-the-ear lyrics, conjures images of Joy Division to the audience’s mind, sans the suicidal melancholy.  That being said - especially in the case of vocals - it is possible to go too far on the reverb.  His piece ‘LOVING YOU’, although lyrically wonderful, can be difficult to make out what he’s saying between the wicked keyboard and reverberating soundscape.  The question is whether this is intentional: an argument could be made that this technique gives his vocals the quality of a backing instrument, once again providing the tune that aforementioned 80s technological swing.

One of many standouts in this release, ‘IM SURE’ seems to take inspiration musically from similar themes found in bands like TOTO, jingly in all the best ways.  The background guitar makes this his most indie track on the album and consequently most similar to his earlier sound.  This isn’t to disparage it though, as it contributes to the release as a nice sort of throwback that doesn’t detract from the general theme built by the past five songs.  Other honourable mentions include the last two tracks ‘MY TIME’ and ‘THE DREAM’, which again take on the quality of a church choir.  The former, in many ways the slow-dance track of the album, emits a low hum that once more recalls the feeling of the deep vibrations that come from the neon tubes, wrapping their arms through and around Ben’s music.  This sound is expanded in his final track, only this time with deep base notes that pair excellently with the light ringing of his foreground guitar and mellow honeyed tones.

An outstanding release that encapsulates everything that’s right with experimenting with your sound.  Whilst risking estranging his fans, all we can do is wait and see if Stafford continues onwards in this new direction or resorts back to his equally beloved folk tune, content with loud guitar twangs and tranquil whirring.  Whether his listeners stay fans of this new style or not, everyone will be waiting to see what comes next.