Benjamin Francis Leftwich - After The Rain (Album Review)
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Written by Ben Gallivan
From the outside, it’s surprising that Benjamin Francis Leftwich left it five years to follow up his incredible debut, ‘Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm’. The York-born, north London-resident songwriter saw the album garner some high-profile fans on its way to cracking the UK top 40 at a time when albums released on indies rarely found a home among higher echelons of the charts.
But it’s been a tough time. His father, Adrian, passed away shortly after the album’s release, prompting Leftwich to step away from music for a while. But he has now channelled his experience into another fine record: ‘After The Rain’.
Now aged 26, Leftwich’s style has changed very little. The arrangements and production are strikingly similar to those of his debut and, despite all that has befallen him since then, the subject matter here is that of strength through adversity.
He still sings in the same sweet, whispered tone, which harks back to Elliott Smith in his finest hours, over songs that are generally acoustic but interspersed with some welcome, albeit minimal, electronic flourishes and beats, particularly on the outstanding Kicking Roses.
There are obviously some more melancholic moments here and there, but as a whole these 13 songs are uplifting. ‘After The Rain’ is not a record that begs for repeat listens, but it is one that will always raise a smile when you come back to it.
The pace varies very little during its 50 or so minutes, but the changes in atmosphere throughout – Groves, in particular, is one to listen out for – mean that it does not outstay its welcome. Leftwich finds himself releasing a record at a time when earnest, intelligent songwriters are 10 a penny, but the hope is that ‘After The Rain’ gets the recognition it deserves and doesn’t get lost in the melee.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed September 21 2016 - NORWICH Arts Centre
Thu September 22 2016 - LONDON Islington Assembly Hall
Fri September 23 2016 - CARDIFF Gate
Sat September 24 2016 - BRISTOL Fleece
Mon September 26 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Tue September 27 2016 - MANCHESTER Academy 3
Wed September 28 2016 - LEEDS University Stylus
Fri September 30 2016 - GLASGOW Oran Mor
Sat October 01 2016 - ABERDEEN Cafe Drummond
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