Ben Howard
Every Kingdom
Album · Singer/Songwriter · 2011 · Universal-Island Records Ltd.
It was a boon that Ben Howard’s chief influence (bucolic, ’70s-era folk) came back in vogue just as the British singer/songwriter launched his career in 2008. But as his debut makes clear, Howard is also gifted at crafting spare, off-kilter arrangements. “Keep Your Head Up” bobs along on waves of brittle, fingerpicked guitar, and the dissonant notes on “The Wolves” trip up its bouncy beat. With irreverent instincts—and his distinctively rugged, froggy sigh of a voice—Howard stands out as a true original in his field.
Every Kingdom
Ben Howard
It was a boon that Ben Howard’s chief influence (bucolic, ’70s-era folk) came back in vogue just as the British singer/songwriter launched his career in 2008. But as his debut makes clear, Howard is also gifted at crafting spare, off-kilter arrangements. “Keep Your Head Up” bobs along on waves of brittle, fingerpicked guitar, and the dissonant notes on “The Wolves” trip up its bouncy beat. With irreverent instincts—and his distinctively rugged, froggy sigh of a voice—Howard stands out as a true original in his field.
