Ben Reel
Album: Darkness And The Light
Label: B.Reel
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.benreel.com

Ben Reel is one of those artists that seems to work his nuts off, shedloads of gigs a year, both as headliner and support, but at the same time one that seems to pass you by unless you're in the know. "Darkness And The Light" is actually his 6th studio album and back in 2012, he even had a best of, "Ben Reel 1999-2009 Compilation 10" out. Well hopefully this is the album that will put a lot more listeners in the know.

You can pick up his Irish roots in the way he constructs his songs, not that the folk/Americana sound is particularly indigenous, it's more the poet lilt of the construction of the narrative. These are then delivered with a voice that seems like it's been built to deliver spiritual almost gospel elements.

He's also built a solid band around him, brother in law Michael Black(drums), Ronnie O'Flynn(bass) and Mick McCarney(guitar) for a sound, that whilst tight, definitely isn't over polished and sounds as if it could fill out venues from pubs to stadia.

It may be cliché, but "Darkness And The Light" really is one of those albums that makes you want to explore the artists back catalogue. You find yourself thinking how could I have missed this guy for so long, well I think it's Ben Reel's time to get discovered and no doubt he'll be hailed as an overnight success.

Neil King