Bearos073 - Ben Calvert - The Broken Family Day Saver
Listen to Ben Calvert at www.myspace.com/bencalvertmusic

Ben writes and plays modern urban ballads, with an indie-pop dimension. Within are tales of modern life's trials and tribulations, where themes of pessimism and tragedy meet with optimistic, bright-sound instrumentation. As well as this form of modern soul music, he also plays what is best described as 'dark folk'.

His debut recording The State of Travel EP (bearos020)was released on Bearos Records to unanimous praise worldwide. John Peel gave the song "Leeds for the Winter" it's first airplay on his Radio One show, and other national radio stations in Europe followed.

In the last year Ben has played his own particular Lo-Fi Post-Folk musings at The Heavenly Social (with Kris Drever), Anti-Folk night 'Blang!' at 12 Bar in London and Bohemian Jukebox in Birmingham. He also joined Guillemots onstage at a capacity show at Birmingham Academy and trod the festival boards at the Nick Drake Tribute Gathering and Moseley Folk Festival, where Ben appeared on a bill that included Jose Gonzalez, The Bees, and Scott Matthews.

There’s another side to Ben Calvert. When he’s with his band there are energetic songs sung over power chords, with an unconventional double bass and lively drums. In the new LP The Broken Family DaySaver these two sounds meet in an album where unashamedly happy songs of seaside jaunts, day trips, and amyl nitrate sniffin' sit next to reflections on impossible summers, crippling jealousy and the single parent conundrum - The perfect soundtrack to the end of the Summer, whether you are happy with your lot, or not!

Mail order price £10 (included P&P in the UK)

 

REVIEWS

"A booty bag of avid odes to poppers, kids and wonderboys; he's an understated emancipator of lyrical wisdom." Plan-B

“Haunting, heart-bruising tales bitterly stumble into each other as if played by a meth-ed up, homeless Johnny Marr. The dark humour and stark honesty of Ben Calvert is paralysing, and charmingly so” The Fly

“Although Ben Calvert has a folk heart, it is a folk heart which has been broken on indie dancefloors to the sounds of Blur and The Smiths. An accomplished piece of art.” Indie mp3.co.uk

“The world of Ben Calvert is one of family, sex, drugs and psychedelic folk soul where city doldrums, insalubrious corners, glue-sniffers and cynical grey tile skies are redeemed and lined with silver by the innocence of ‘Kids’ Redbricks Magazine

“Flee is a soft and delicious slice of near-nakedly drawn musings, that in truth is quite perfect for these sultry days. Beyond that the only thing you need know is that you ought to investigate Ben Calvert further for yourself.” Losing Today

IF YOU LIKE THIS RELEASE YOU SHOULD TRY (click on sleeve for details)

Bearos045 Ben Calvert - The Leafy Underground (CD album)
Bearos020 Ben Calvert - The state of travel EP (7")
Bearos070 The Baker Boys - Piedmont Log Rolling (CD album)
Bearos071 Lonesome Fox - The First Rules of Comedy (3" CD EP)
Bearos055 Richard Burke - Roscrea (CD mini-album)
Bearos030 Meets Guitar/Taunus (split 7")
Bearos048 - Owen Tromans - Place (CD album)