Artist: Harper, Ben
Label: Virgin Records
Released: 2007
Harmony and love are the main binding agents of Ben Harper’s eleventh album so far, recorded in a measly seven days in the most traditional way possible. Away with computers or whatever other creative gadgets so many people now consider indispensable. All that awaits us here is a sextet of sensitive music enthusiasts who aren’t ashamed to flirt with the past, though in a more modern way, with a trademark crystal-clear production that ends up delivering three-quarters of an hour of intense, gripping passion and emotion. You’ll pick up on that homey feel fast as you surf through Lifeline, because good old Ben has once again cooked up an exciting stew of mostly black musical elements, which only cement him further on the throne of the younger generation of soul musicians.
True to the tradition of Harper’s output so far, Lifeline stays loyal to a light, soul-tinged message, which Ben, in his own style, keeps weaving together with bits of blues, gospel and at moments even some harder rocker moves. The album is a thoroughly focused piece of work, its common denominator being short, simply condensed songs built entirely on the singer’s astonishingly colorful voice, which understandably stays front and center the whole way through. Ben impresses from the opening Fight Outta You onward, which, in its excessive reserve, almost jealously tries to shield the listener from the exciting stuff that follows. And that stuff hides plenty of music with real character in its belly. Here the excellent In The Colors is waiting impatiently for us, a convincing soul radio-oriented tune, enriched for the first time (and luckily not the last) with inspired piano playing, which is sure to satisfy fans of easy-listening melodies as well as the more orthodox consumers. When Ben adds a more substantial pinch of blues to the tempting softness of soul, we get the excellent Fool For A Lonesome Train, which, together with the eruptive vocals on Needed You Tonight, is surely one of the album’s peaks. Caught somewhere in between are Say You Will, Paris Sunrise and the endearing Heart Of Matters, all three another display of exceptional musical communication between the vocals and the rest of the band. With such a consistent and convincing performance, it’s no wonder that Ben, well aware of his incredible vocal abilities, has been steering more than successfully through the merciless world of show biz for a good fifteen years now. And even though Harper is often mostly about slyly retouching the legacies of soul giants Bobby Bland and Marvin Gaye, Lifeline still seems unbeatable in its elegance and soulfulness. Especially by today’s standards.
Line-up
Ben Harper – vocals
Michael Ward – guitar
Jason Yates – keyboards
Juan Nelson – bass guitar
Leon Mobley – percussion
Oliver Charles – drums
Production
Ben Harper
Track list
1.Fight Outta You
2.In The Colours
3.Fool For A Lonesome Train
4.Needed You Tonight
5.Having Wings
6.Say You Will
7.Younger Than Today
8.Put It On Me
9.Heart Of Matters
10.Paris Sunrise
11.Lifeline
Album length: 40.28
