There’s an immediate optimism and happy vibe that floods through the speakers as Ben Whiting’s ‘Dirty Hands’ plays. Using his voice to create a beat and laying down some cleverly written lyrics, Whiting is clearly a new voice in the music industry who has his own equally new sound.
Listening to ‘Dirty Hands’ may seem like a simple ‘feel-good’ song, but pay attention to the lyrics and it actually has a much deeper meaning: “I’ve got dirty hands and I don’t sleep good at night”. Then when you get to the actual instrumentals, there’s almost too many to count.
‘Frangipani’ is a highlight on the release with its warbling guitar, steady beat and the gentle layering that develops throughout the song. It’s sweet, the kind of nostalgic song that gets played as the soundtrack to a new romance head over heals in love. Again, the structure (lyrically and musically) has been thought through, and while this release would slot best into the indie/alt-rock genre, it’s hardly that at all.
Ben Whiting is one to watch.
4.5/5
JunkYard Records
Reviewed by Alexander Lightfoot
