Ben Esser is a raw talent, make no mistake about that – and here he backs up the promise found in singles like ‘Headlock’ and ‘Satisfied’ with a hugely uplifting long player. He’s a versatile chap as well, moving from some Blur-isms in the style of ‘Leaving Town’ to a full on, Rachmaninov-style piano work out that ushers in ‘Satisfied’. For the dancier end of the spectrum the ping pong beats of ‘Bones’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ are a treat, while the closing pair of ‘Real Life’ and ‘Stop Dancing’ are rhythmically involving but a bit more reflective. For sure Esser is not the finished product yet, and has some rough edges to his sound, but if anything they make him more appealing as they show just how much potential he has. With songwriting as good as this, it’s a case of Esser is more.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
