The word immigrant and emigrant will always pose contrasting
images, reactions, feelings and experiences. While forever being a theme of a changing
world, they will often be the staple of song writing activity. Irish born
Nashville based singer-songwriter Ben Glover has extracted his personal experience
of the latter to spearhead a project drawing on a set of themed songs from a
range of sources.
In line with his two most recent excursions into the recording world – the solo album ATLANTIC and the collaborative effort THE ORPHAN BRIGADE – Ben once again submerges his whole creative being into a collection of songs wringing in the depth of emotive soul. The backdrop does veer away from his adopted home and the overall Celtic feel resonates with an outlook to peer into the distance. Through a journey of solo/co-writes, covers and traditional arrangements, THE EMIGRANT hooks in the listener and refuses to relinquish their attention until the task of extolling an imaginative experience is complete.
In line with his two most recent excursions into the recording world – the solo album ATLANTIC and the collaborative effort THE ORPHAN BRIGADE – Ben once again submerges his whole creative being into a collection of songs wringing in the depth of emotive soul. The backdrop does veer away from his adopted home and the overall Celtic feel resonates with an outlook to peer into the distance. Through a journey of solo/co-writes, covers and traditional arrangements, THE EMIGRANT hooks in the listener and refuses to relinquish their attention until the task of extolling an imaginative experience is complete.
Familiarity with the work of Ben Glover is easy to detect as
the album pans out. He has once again turned to acclaimed producer Nielson
Hubbard for help in the steering compartment. Similarly the deep song writing
seams of Gretchen Peters and Mary Gauthier has once again been collaboratively mined
to pen a pair of gems. The vocals of Ben continue to be as rugged as the Irish
coastline to which many an emigrant left in search of a new life. Musically, whistles
and pipes have steered the sound away from the trademark Americana stance, but
folk music from the British Isles is embedded deep in the roots of American
music alongside that of fellow, and less willing, emigrants.
While the order of the ten tracks appears in a strain of
randomness, analysis is best served by breaking the sources down and
acknowledging their value to a process of forming an outstanding record. Three
songs of traditional origin make the cut with the first thoughts of hearing Ben
sing ‘The Parting Glass’ is to
contrast his vocals with a version recorded by the Wailin Jennys. Great songs
are malleable in their interpretation and this comparison is unedited proof. ‘Moonshiner’ and ‘The Green Glens of Antrim’ are the other two of unnamed origin with
the latter a superb fit for closer position complete with a tearful piano
accompaniment.
Next stop on this analytical trail is the four originals to
see the light of day headed by the title track. ‘The Emigrant’ is a co-write with Gretchen Peters, re-uniting an
association that gave Ben’s UK profile a real lift when he opened for her a
couple of years ago. If the subsequent ‘Blackbirds’
is their co-writing standard then the new song matches up well. A dark and
luscious piano opening greets a song that runs deep into the perspective of those
who seek a new land. Loneliness, curses and the wondrous line ‘cuts loose from
all you knew’ shape a track adorned with Irish pipes and one that makes a case
for the album’s beacon. Ben’s other esteemed writing partner is Mary Gauthier
and their offering ‘Heart in My Hand’
is the most melody friendly of the originals. The track rolls along comfortably
with the fiddle segment far more in the Celtic camp than the Americana one. ‘A Song for Home’ is the third co-write
(this time with Tony Kerr), sits at number two position in the album running
order and unravels as a rousing ballad. Perhaps it leaves the term ‘home’ as
one to ponder for the emigrant. Ben’s solo write ‘Dreamers, Pilgrims, Strangers’ completes the newbie section and is
a short strapline fiddle piece containing a lyrical message printed on the
album’s inside cover. Once again, it could be suggested as Ben’s overriding
message from the record. (The copy of the album awaiting you will reveal more.)
Finally onto the remainder of the album, and a celebration
of other writers leading off with Ralph McTell’s ‘From Clare to Here’. This much covered ballad of Irish emigration
is a suitable fit for the album and fully deserves its core position. ‘The Auld Triangle’ is another
established Irish standard and brings back memories of the Punch Brothers
covering it at Southern Fried Festival last year. The set is completed with an
antipodean emigration song albeit one with a moving complete story packed with
many stark messages and morals. Every second of the 7:49 version of ‘And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ is
a million miles from being wasted and paints a painful picture of life’s cruelties
from an emigrant’s perspective.
You should be now getting the message that THE EMIGRANT is
full of substantial artistic merit and a conceptual piece of multi-song writing
excellence. If you like your music brimming with history, context, emotion and perception,
Ben Glover will deliver.