Ben Reel: Darkness & The Light

Something of a veteran by now, Reel has been recording since the late ’90s, building a solid audience particularly in mainland Europe where he tours widely. His approach has always been Springsteen-esque in scale, epic songs often swimming against the prevailing musical tide. The songs on his sixth studio album deal with the fall-out from the economic crash and showcase a new maturing in his approach.

The single ‘Heart Just Won’t Heal’ is a definite highlight and will appeal to fans of classic Americana – it could so easily be a Rodney Crowell or Steve Earle creation. ‘Flickering Light’ is more Van Morrison in style, while another highpoint is the gospel-like ‘Watershed’ – a shimmering, mid-tempo shuffle with twanging guitar and soulful backing vocals. Elsewhere, a light reggae rhythm underpins ‘River Of Time’ while acoustic guitar and strings backdrop the anthemic closing track, ‘Our Fathers’ Sins’, a song very much in the spirit of Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’. His best yet.

Key Track: ‘Heart Just Won’t Heal’