Ben Marwood - Outside There's A Curse (for BlagSound.com)

Ben Marwood
Outside There’s A Curse
Xtra Mile

“Its shit and you know it. But it’s life, so what can you do”

If there’s one thing to love about the anti-folk scene, it’s the way it deals with the cynicism, the banal, and all the pointless drivel life throws at you – by holding two fingers up to it, and writing a song about it. But of course, it’s never this easy. Half the time yes, the affect is universal, triumphant in its timidity and uplifting its resilience. The rest of the time, it just seems a bit, well, pretentious. There’s only so much you can sing about the tough times you’ve had, before it gets bored and we leave to talk to someone a bit more cheery.

What Ben Marwood has found, is that space in between. That rare liminality, the place most artists seem to forget about when they’re trying to find emotion in a song. A place where you can be happy, and angry, and lonely, and a bit pissed off – all at the same time. After all, there’s no such thing as mutually exclusive emotion, is there?

This whole simul-sensitivity fits perfectly with the blunt yet subtle nature of Marwood’s acoustic. Opener ‘I Will Breathe You In’ sums this up quite brilliantly – a tale of self-realisation, rising not in anger or passion, but in almost bewildered confession, stumbling through a Jack Peñate-esque vocal. Other highlights include it’s ironically titled follower ‘Singalong’, a much lighter hearted affair, full of amusing jibes and witty observations, and a perfect introduction to the full backing band. Also up there is ‘They Will Float You Out To Sea’, the first real outing of anger in the album, showing clear allusions to Frank Turner’s ‘Substitute’, and the brilliantly titled ‘Tell Avril Lavigne I Never Wanted To Be Your Stupid Boyfriend Anyway’, stripping back to guitar and vocals alone – Ben’s gruff, semi-spoken ramblings laying the ground perfectly for the closing number.

There are no falsities about this album. It was recorded on a bedroom floor, and that’s exactly what it sounds like. These are those first promises of the day at dawn, and those last, self loathsome thoughts before sleep. When with friends, these are witty remarks on culture, and when alone, these are retrospects on times less lonely. ‘Outside Is A Curse’ is a lyrical and personal testament – here be a protest singer, protesting against nothing that need concern anyone but himself. But we’ll listen anyway, and by all means, we’ll probably join in.

8/10