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InfamousT |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 1,972
Status: Offline |
BENEVA
OK...!
...first up, just so's we're clear - IVE GOT AN EGO - AND I'M GONNA USE IT!
...now, whilst said ego has oft been described as somewhat akin to comin' atcha like a frenzied diarrhoeatic rhino on angel dust makin' fer the nearest lavvy, it seems that certain noses have been put out of joint by the sheer volume of my own, most peculiar, verbose extrapolations and inane whitterings on the subject of music, life, the universe etc...
...welllll..... upon checkin' my own nose - i find that it is still completely covered in skin.... and anyone fancying themselves in the old verbal fisticuffs, can meet me behind the forums after school!
...right - that's out of the way - as is the weekend...
...so, having put away the ol' rubber fresian cow costume, (deluxe, y'know - with the vibrating udders...?)
...i find myself - cuppa in hand, and off to indulge my aural pod holes with the sounds of Beneva, who have just released thier debut album: 'I'll Just say What I Mean'
...fine sentiments indeed - and wholeheartedly agreed with from this quarter!
first track up is....
LET IT GO
now, the bands quite comprehensive biog informs us of what appears to be quite some carreer to date - encompasing, as it does, a hefty amount of radio coverage and some pretty high profile gigs - as well as a residency at The Garage in Islington...
...and on the basis of listening to this first track on thier profile - it's easy to see why!
...opening with a plaintive and quite melancholic piano refrain, the voice arrives in quite an understated fashion, before the addition of a vocal harmony and a complimentary 'cello make to up the stakes...
...the music swells to an uplifting key change before a nice little hook appears in the shape of a rundown across the scale to resolve the passage back to the more introspective feeling of what went before, and the rest of the band not so much launch in, but appear mystically, out of the mist...
a mandolin gently spins out a subtle ostinato in the mid distance, the 'cello comes forward to offer more substance, and an acoustic guitar - strumming behind these main points of focus, arives with a lazy relaxed beat from the drums...
these additional elments cause the second verse to simply coalesce... wistful stuff ideed...
...there's that pleasant rundown again - and it's somwhat reminiscent of the intro to 'I Don't Like Mondays' by the Boomtown Rats... sorry guys... but it IS...
...the middle eight arrives and full use of the minor/major keychange is made - the song soars heavenward, in the most orchestral of fashions - the emotive 'cello singing out its reflective melody - but it's not a happy flight - tinged as it seems, with a certain saddness...
the resolution into the final verse allows for the enourmous space - aforded by the dynamics of the change, to surround the voice with an almost ethereal quality...
"let it go..." it says...
...but we don't want to.
7 plays later and i MUST move onto another track...
STALKER
...a cinematic opening, with a girls vioce answering the 'phone and asking in a plantive voice:
"hello... hello..."
...and with best Bernard Hermann 'Psycho' strings - we are off into a rather jaunty desciption of the secret world of the eponymous stalker... the juxtaposition of the musical style, with the subject matter makes it easy for one to smile, as we listen to the sordid imaginings of the title character...
...clever, witty and really quite quintisentially English...
...the heavy skank of the hammond pins down the rythmic structure as the rest of the band indulge themselves in a strange - almost trad-jazzy, workout... all punctuated with, once again, those creepy strings...
..it's so refreshing to hear a touch of whimsey now and again - and the guys have got it spot on here...
...now, idiosyncracies aside - as far as recording quality and production are concerned... there are some - but simply not worth mentioning here, as it really quite adds to the whole vibe, i feel, of what Beneva are all about -
i totally enjoyed listening through the selection of tracks that is on offer on thier profile... and could quite happily wax lyrical about them all for the rest of the day, (but i have m'rules.. so i can't!)
...so,i for one offer the chaps all the best of British ... and - wish then all the luck in the world with this new album... here's to what hopefully will be, simply the latest in a long line of acts that have graced the British music scene over the years... from the Kinks onwards...
..a great band that's not afraid to have a sense of humour too!
Full Albumnow availabe here
( let them in, then let it go, fantastic alubum. John -ukbands.net)
ProfileBeneva
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| Posted: 12-9-2005 1:56 PM
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Nathan Bennett |
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Location: Sutton Coldfield
Prev. Posts: 288
Status: Offline |
Wow! Cheers 'infamous t' for taking the time to write that up for us - very happy with that indeed :-)
Hope to catch up with you at one of our forthcoming London dates - let us know which one and we will sort out the guest list :-)
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| Posted: 12-9-2005 2:35 PM
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InfamousT |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 1,972
Status: Offline |
cheers chaps - no problem at all!
...'twas a pleasure... and i'd love to make it down to see you live - i wanna do some gig reviews soon!
catch ya laters!
T
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| Posted: 12-9-2005 3:38 PM
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Beneva |
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Location: Coventry
Prev. Posts: 1,292
Status: Offline |
Wow! Fantastic review - what a way to start the week. Cheers for that.
Maybe see you on Friday at the Betsy??
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| Posted: 12-9-2005 5:34 PM
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InfamousT |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 1,972
Status: Offline |
you know now that you will!
...can't wait!
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| Posted: 15-9-2005 10:37 PM
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UKB Office |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 0
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I have just received the album.... thanks to Beneva, it will be in my drive for a long while to come....
and look forward to the next gig....
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| Posted: 20-9-2005 10:12 AM
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InfamousT |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 1,972
Status: Offline |
are these guys still going?
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| Posted: 20-5-2008 8:29 AM
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UKB Office |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 0
Status: Offline |
yes but I believe they are apart now... doing their own things, did you hear the "on myspace" song that Nath did?
no? then check it out here
http://www.myspace.com/kamloopsmusic
Correction... they are still gigging... here we go
http://www.myspace.com/beneva
never hear anything from them these days... well lessons learnt over and over again I guess...!
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| Posted: 23-5-2008 6:18 PM
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Alphapro Audio |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 146
Status: Offline |
Caught the guys show in London recently. Great performance & great guys. Very professional & still going strong.
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| Posted: 30-5-2008 5:34 PM
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InfamousT |
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Location: London
Prev. Posts: 1,972
Status: Offline |
oh that's good to hear Bob,
hows things with you?
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| Posted: 01-6-2008 12:27 PM
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