We’re long-standing fans of Ben P Williams. It was prior to his debut full length Who Do You Think You Are? (2015) that we first caught him play live and were immediately grabbed by his skilled song writing, humorous takes and wit. I fact, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve now seen the Manchester based singer/songwriter perform live more than any other artist.
He’s now back with his latest album Benthusiasm. The period between his debut and latest release have seen him drop 2017’s Put It On Ice, 2019’s stripped back Minimum of Fuss and the 2023 album Under The Radar as well as the Son Of William EP collaboration alongside Hayley Williams. Throughout, Ben Williams has pulled through a series of influences and styles – think Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, folk, jazz, blues and more.
The ability to draw from genres is one of the aspects which keeps Ben Williams’ writing fresh and captivating. And new album Benthusiasm is no exception. It finds Ben Williams again drawing from a wealth of genres including heavily country influenced opener Diamonds and Pearls as well as folk, blues and jazz. It’s at times an up-beat, bright work; at others a more sombre piece.
He again puts story-telling and lyricism right at the heart of the album, generating a connection and a vivid feel. The tracks range from the heartfelt through to the jovial; sometimes melancholic and sometimes bright and hopeful. Review in particular brings all of these pieces together – slow but building; melancholic yet hopeful; sparse but full of growth.
Throughout the album he reminisces, he observes; he muses, he jokes. It’s an album which is as optimistic as reflective as he looks at relationships, friendships and more with Lost And Found delivering this perfectly. He also finds time to deliver humorous moments in the form of 52-second Cheesy Love Song which features probably the only reference to cheese-on-toast I can recall in a song.
The ten tracks of Benthusiasm have been written by Ben Williams, with the opening track Diamonds and Pearls finding him again collaborating with Hayley Williams. Recording and mixing comes from Mark Lewis with mastering from Richard Dowling at Wav Mastering, Limerick. The album features musicians Eryl Roberts (drums and percussion); Justin Shearn (keys); Matt Owens (double bass); Mark Lewis (backing vocals, bass, percussion and additional piano); Alan Keary (strings); James McKeown (piano); Gillan Edgar (backing vocals); Simon Reynolds (clarinet and saxophone).
Benthusiasm tracklisting:
- Diamonds And Pearls
- Ordinary Thing To Do
- We Can All Singalong
- Reverse
- We’ve Got Nothing To Do
- Cheesy Love Song
- Ain’t Nobody Coming Around Here
- Buttercups
- Song Of The Passerby
- Lost And Found
Benthusiasm artwork (featuring hidden message) courtesy Tom Sullivan with photography from Sven Eselgroth
Ben P Williams releases Benthusiasm on 15 November 2024.
