Hemming, Ben: Resurrection

With five full length albums behind him UK based but American inspired blues man Ben Hemming should be a much more familiar name than he would appear to be. Resurrection is a five track EP blending blues, Americana and something just a little slicker, into a catchy but authentic blend that has you nodding your head, singing along and pondering the deeper meanings behind it all. Using some religious metaphors to explore life can be a dangerous game to play, but across these five tracks Hemming manages to do so with no little skill or storytelling ability.

Musically the journey also pays dividends, the easy lilt, but never throwaway intention of “Born To Die� possessing a real charm that’s never too sweet, while “Baptise Me� is much more shimmying, much more immediate and yet just as memorable. Add in the deceptively forceful mid-paced opener “The End� and it’s difficult not to get caught up in what this all too short experience has up its sleeve. Hemming has a cool, lived in vocal delivery, but there’s a power there that reminds of Myles Kennedy without the histrionics, while the guitar playing does enough on each and every track to hold the interest without over egging the pudding.

With “Lonely For A Day� mining an ever so slightly more commercial path - dare I say there’s the merest hint of Bono in the vocals here - and “The Devil’s Dance� closing things out with a ring of almost spaghetti western like hope, even if the lyric eludes to something darker, Ben Hemming really has all the bases covered. Considering he’s traversed all that ground in the space of just five songs, that’s really quite impressive.

Track Listing
1. The End
2. Baptise Me
3. Holy For A Day
4. Born To Die
5. The Devil’s Dance

Added: June 9th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ben Hemming online
Hits: 350
Language: english

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