|
|
|
Ben Christophers, for the most part at least, is not a happy man. In fact if there were a league table for happy musicians, he'd be propping up the Sprockleton Bootwax Conference (Division 4), embroiled in a relegation battle with Morrissey. Musical references to his hometown of Wolverhampton are less than sparse, so it is unsurprising that Christophers cites love (or lack of it) as the cause of his predicament rather than geographical location in this, his debut album. An unhappy bunny he may be, but Christophers has built his loneliness, despair and paranoia into a solid album of eerily captivating songs. There's little room for jovial banter here, but it really doesn't matter once the songs have begun. Christophers certainly knows how to construct a decent tune - standout track Give Me Everything grows layer by layer, beginning with muted distortion only to be combined with a rhythm reminiscent of Radioheads' Airbag, followed by robotic beeps and angelic harmonies, climaxing with a satisfyingly sinister chorus. Many different styles make an appearance; slide guitar, samples, drum loops and more weave a melancholy tapestry, sounding like a cross between David McAlmont and Geneva without the joy. Orchestration is used more as a subtle addition smiling meekly in the corner rather than an overblown afterthought, and little has been over-produced or lost in a sea of echoes. Ben Christophers has a talent. At points My Beautiful Demon drifts closer towards the coffee table than is comfortable, with the acoustic Sunday triggering an unwelcome cringe, but on the evidence of this debut, and in an irony for such a troubled man, Ben Christophers has nothing to worry about. Except relegation. 9/10 Karl Cremin. |
Ben Christophers