Ben Brookes is gearing up to drop his debut album, The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon. The album features a host of talented musicians: Prince drummer Michael Bland; Bob Dylan keyboardist Greg Inhofer; Badfinger’s Joey Molland; Badfinger’s Randy Anderson plays guitar; and the album was produced by Badfinger’s Mark Healey.
Hailing from Portsmouth, U.K., Brookes’ sound blends indie-pop, pop-rock and acoustic rock. His songs revolve around incisive hooks and indie-pop melodies. Brookes’ primary musical influences include Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Oasis, T۰REX, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits.
The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon comprises ten tracks. “I Want To Go Home” rides an indie-pop melody with a Celtic flavor. Brookes’ voice exudes an exotic inflection easy to listen to. “Asleep In Galilee” features a stellar crying guitar and a catchy indie pop melody. Light background vocal harmonies imbue the tune with a muted radiance. And I love the resounding bell. “The Girl Who Cried Wolf” reflects the opaque colors of a folk-rock melody rife with a Bob Dylan-like feel. An orchestral emanation adds depth, while a running synth streams glittering accents.
“Crack A Smile Songs” provides an undulating indie-pop melody harking back to The Cranberries because of its flow and lyrical articulation. The tune sparkles with muted bright guitars and sonorous synths. “Before Sunlight” delivers a smooth, laid-back essence that oozes subdued harmonics. Brookes’ voice is pitched higher, giving the tune a passionate intensity. This might be my favorite tune on the album because of its horizontal flow.
“Look Thru My Eyes” offers a funk-flavored, bluesy rock melody. A dirty guitar adds a nasty zest, as tootling keyboards inject emergent sonic hues. A braying sax adds dark moodiness as Brookes’ voice attains crescendo. “Stories In The Rain” rides a potent indie-rock melody with heavy keyboards and wavering guitars. “Siren” rides the piano and Irish-flavored violins merging to form an indie-rock melody with an orchestral radiance.
“Shackles” features gentle guitars traveling over a glimmering piano. The melody combines folk and indie pop flavors. A strong bassline thrums vibrantly underneath, providing a measured pulsing rhythm. “Integration (Not Segregation)” combines folk and indie-pop elements into a Harry Chapin-like melody full of dark tinctures of frustration and righteous indignation. Brookes’ voice, pervaded by a strident note, delivers fervent emotional commitment.
The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon is a strong album and very much worth listening to. The melodies are attractive and Brookes’ distinctive voice infuses the songs with an interesting exotic aroma.
Find out more about Ben Brookes here.