A big influence has been Ben Howard's rich, heartfelt guitar songs (coming out of SWest UK) with folky guitar-picking and deep rhythms. So am v. excited for the full 3rd album 'Noonday Dream' available in few days.
So far the tone has reached some kind of mature place, meandering, more resigned/laid back, looking ahead to older age... and whatever else you want to read into it.
Check out these vids / performances available so far... and read the great economy in the written lyrics as you go.
'Towing the Line' [on Youtube]
Towing the line
I watched the host drink all the wine
And now she rambles through the who and who have nots
The old man is a painter of tired seascapes
Tired of adventure
So my mind wanders
Picking at the table to cure the wrong
Like a bird in a world with no trees
You were hung up there in your disbelief
I know I'm a hard rock to drag around
Love is in the early mornings
In the shadows under the trees
Not in the cuckolded ashes
Floating down from the rook array
Down here I crow for you
You crow for me
Down here I crow for you
You crow for me
Towing the line
I watched the host drink all the wine
And now I’m purring for a drop of anything
Throwing stones at your window
You turn to me as if it’s simple
Why can’t you be like the blackbird and sing
I said I'm the westerlies in Ireland
So decadent and violent
Can’t you see I'm a forager
Crawling at the bedrock
Love is in the early mornings
In the shadows under the trees
Not in the cukolded ashes
Floating down from the rook array
Down here I crow for you
You crow for me
Down here I crow for you
You crow for me
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Nica Libres At Dusk [on Youtube]
'Door is locked
My gums are bleeding
Outside she reads
Outside she's reading
The evacuation procedure out loud
Clothes are off
My health receding
Somewhere she dreams
Somewhere she's dreaming
The Caribbean
Nica Libres at dusk
[Chorus 1]
While the faithful dispose of a generation
And all of the mountains whisper knowingly
I order a Colada
And sit, count my dollars
And watch eagles soar in circles
Perpetually
[Bridge]
Forever, forever such a beautiful thing
[Chorus 2]
Now I'm older
I don't look over my shoulder
I know what is there in front of me
Ten Marlboro cigarettes
The rolled butts into the bottles
Today I will stare at the sea
Till my eyes have had enough
[Outro]
Enough, is that enough?'
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Songwriters: Benjamin John Howard / Mickey Smith
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
See also: 'A Boat to an Island on the Wall'
Do you like Ben Howard? Favourite track/album?...