Ben Glover
Album: Atlantic
Label: Carpe Vita Creative
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.benglover.co.uk/

Singer songwriter Ben Glover hails from County Antrim, Ireland and came to many people's attention when he opened for the highly esteemed Gretchen Peters, on last year's UK tour. That so done of Gretchen's like would laud his work so highly, speaks volumes. Add to this the fact that he also counts Nashville legend Mary Gauthier among his friends and co writers and I think this man's talent speaks for itself.

Atlantic is his fourth album, inspired by a visit to the grave of bluesman Robert Johnson in the Mississippi Delta. Whilst there, he observed some significant similarities between The Deep South and his native Ireland, both in terms of their history and their culture.

The Music itself traverses a range of musical sounds, genres and influences, all the while evoking the atmosphere, landscape and people of the area which inspired it. A range of musicians contribute, including North Carolina native Ryan Adams.

A stunning selection of songs includes Blackbirds, a co write with Gretchen Peters (soon to be the title track of her new release), which also features her on vocals; cue wonderful harmonies and a wonderful, if slightly dark in nature, duet. More darkness follows in Oh Soul, one of the co writes with the afore mentioned Mary Gauthier. Haunting.

Sing a Song, Boys and True Love's Breaking My Heart, have. Much more upbeat sound; the latter harking back to a much earlier country sound. All the while his rich Irish accent slips through between the lyrics.

All in all this is a must have CD and certainly a great starting point for all new to the music of Ben Glover. Whilst you're there, look up his collaborators and inspiration!

Helen Mitchell