Burgh Iceland EP

"Burgh Iceland ', both the name of a small island off the south coast of England, as well as the title of the newly released EP of the 24-year-old singer / songwriter Ben Howard from Devon, England.
He surfs, looks good, plays guitar and sings, in fact, he fulfills every cliché of a surfer and yet he does not. Who the "flagship" of relaxed acoustic surf suspected music behind these statements a second Jack Johnson, in his capacity, should steer clear of the new EP.
With two E.Ps and-platinum album "Every Kingdom" in the back, Howard goes to the "Burgh Iceland EP" his hitherto "düsterstem" body of work.
Where "Every Kingdom" still captivated by its quantity and quality of earwigs and good mood songs, the new material is at the point where "Black Flies" by far the stops "gloomiest" track of the LP.
The first piece, "Esmeralda", notice that here-as well as a lot of attention was paid to the rest of the atmosphere EP. So the song begins with a slowly louder, very repitativen twin guitar, appropriately accompanied by shallow and solid vocals Howards. As a tempest it rears up in front of the listener and is underlined by a ghostly appearing Cello, until finally in a three-part guitar and the line "Now I'm going places on my own" ends.
"Go your way I'll take the long way 'round I'll find my own way down," it says in "Oats In The Water", not only lyrically, but also instrumental are struck new sounds. The acoustic guitar has to give way and Howard reaches for electric guitar. Contrary to expectations, however, does not change much, as well as the first song is more atmospheric than placed on virtuosity. Rather than seize the opportunity and bring the last bit of the guitar, he plucks them as his acoustic guitar and then ends surprisingly in a guitar solo.
"To be alone", the third of four titles, acts like selbiger already betrays introverted and represents a certain calming influence compared to the first two, almost epic liable titles represent.
In the fourth and last song Howard returns permanently to his homeland and creates with his guitar playing an impressive maritime atmosphere .The EP closes with the guest appearance of the Norwegian singer-songwriter Monica Heldal.

Many a trailer more cheerful songs of Ben Howard, you may see in "Burgh Iceland" a harsh break in style, while friends of "Black Flies" recognize the logical continuation and other thoughtful works herein.
However whom Every Kingdom precipitated as oeuvre in all its facets, will be reflected at the latest during the second hearing, in this plate.