Review: Ben Howard - I Forget Where We Were
By Sammi Nelson, Blogs Editor
[Republic; 2014]
Rating: 7/10
Key Tracks: “Small Things,” “I Forget Where We Were,” “Evergreen"
With the release of his second album, I Forget Where We Were, singer-songwriter Ben Howard completely eclipses his debut album Every Kingdom both lyrically and musically.
The London-born musician is known for his acoustically driven folk sound which derives from his childhood influences such as Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel and John Martyn.
Howard’s musical style has strong, echoing tones that ultimately produce a breezy ambience accented by his guitar strums. On Every Kingdom, his overall music quality is upliftingly easygoing, a trait most obvious in songs such as “Only Love” and “Keep Your Head Up.”
I Forget Where We Were has a drastically different tone quality in comparison to its predecessor. Rather than uplifting, the album has a melancholic and, in several instances, absolutely haunting quality to its sound.
The title track, the album’s first single, accurately represents the overall message and musical quality Howard delivers. It opens with, “Oh, hey / I wasn’t listening / I was watching Syria blinded by the sunshine strip,” providing powerful and suggestively political imagery all at once.
Not only does the title track have effective imagery in its lyrics and sound, but several other tracks on the album paint vivid pictures for listeners as well, indicating this as a strong point in Howard’s lyrical writing skills.
The album opens with the song “Small Things,” which is inarguably one of the best songs on the album. The guitar featured in the track echoes and reverberates throughout its length, producing a bluesy sound. It’s a perfect introduction to the album as it immediately establishes its eerie tone while also preparing listeners for the record’s experience.
“Evergreen” is perhaps one of the most haunting tracks on the collection. Its tone is both somber and tranquil, slowly building from light strumming at a guitar to a heavier, rich sound. Howard speaks of Christmas, catacombs and lost loves in “Evergreen” as well, adding an extra splash of jaded imagery to the song.
Howard is bound to send chills down the spine of listeners with tracks such as “End Of The Affair,” which follows “Evergreen.” This track features Howard belting, “What the hell, love? / What the hell?” near the end, projecting anguish and fury through his howls. It is accompanied with the fast pace of melodic guitars, which complements this particular moment in the track.
Howard has nearly mastered the art of storytelling with his album I Forget Where We Were, which contains beautiful elements of imagery within its lyrics. Not only are the tracks incredibly well-versed, but the accompanying music is phenomenally on par and gives the album the perfect amount of texture.
