Like a deep breath

Inspired by an article in a music mag, I've bought both albums by Ben Howard, although I'm more at home in the progressive genre.
No question, the debut "Every Kingdom" is very catchy and delivers much radio-compatible material. During the first hearing much stuck -.
But still I was "I Forget Where We Were" preference. The songs may need longer to ignite, but the more you listen, the more sustainable they act.
It is very brave of Ben Howard, to move away from the mainstream and to release an album, whose songs get plenty of time to develop, even if it takes time 7 minutes. More alternative whispers as music in pop style roar, deep musical breaths, much slide and acoustic guitar and a voice that much more characterful and deeply moving seems compared to the debut, even though - or because - to find less vocal capers such as the start of "The Wolves" are. Vocally Ben Howard has found more credible depth and these certain Crisp, who has been missing on the debut, and as a guitarist he is always special (he has this interesting Greiftechnik - guitarist: google times "Ben Howard Jools Howard" ...)
On his debut reminded me a bit of Dan Smith of Bastille me Ben Howard; now his voice has more unique sound.
"I Forget Where We Were" brings a pleasant autumnal melancholy and peaceful harmonious claim with a lot of background tension with itself, it is not a characteristic I-already-Pop tooting. For me, the album is currently running several times a day and there Pieter licks my ear, if you know ....
Ben Howard is still quite young, right? I'm curious times, where he is in five or ten years. The type is a full-blooded musician.

My faves:
"Rivers in Your Mouth" - casual and driving at the same time
"In Dreams" - radio-friendly and very intuitive 3:33
"End of the Affair" - especially the second half is terrific; the comparison with archives and Dave Pen is close. This suction is my personal highlight of the album, because almost progressive towards the end.

The album is not Hüpfmusik, with a fall ironing easier. In another review was "I Forget Where We Were" vergeichen with Michael Schultes "The Arising"; I believe, just as you could compare apples and oranges, or a sprinter with a marathon runner.

The album is now not the big hit, but it stands out so beneficial from the singer / songwriter from cliché that you have to like it simple. And solely for Chzupe, not to serve the expectations of fan base, he has ever earned four stars. The fifth is for "End of the Affair" :-)