Stanisland Magazine

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Stanisland Magazine Editorial Team

6.22.2023 9:08 AM

Music News

Ben Howard – ‘Is It?’ | music review | Albums

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The highly skilled merchant of songwriting reinvents himself for a time of needing to be more. But ‘Is It?’ any good?

VERDICT:

If you’re familiar with the renderings of singer-songwriter Ben Howard you will be well aware of his charm for musical creation. His works of the past which include Only Love, Keep Your Head Up and more, offer insight into the mind of one of the world’s best artists.

Ethereal is a word that is oftentimes thrown around too much in the music industry. But Howard’s penchant for otherworldly invention make him one deserving for such a title.

On Is It?, he proliferates a sound that, perhaps is from his Devon beginnings, a tantalising remedy of soft riffs and echoing vocals that beat through speakers to mention his style in repeated formats that can’t help but glare into the potential it gifts us with. Lead promo Couldn’t Make It Up, starts the record with the aforesaid traits, an ‘80s synth concoction blended masterfully with Howard’s trademark guitar riffs.

The artist has delicately upped the anti, continually reinventing himself throughout the years. And that is exactly what he does on Is It? Through records such as Walking Backwards, Life In The Time and Interim of Sense whilst retaining his identity through songs like Days of Lantana.

Since suffering from health problems , Howard has indeed made a comeback. And Is It? is just that. It offers plenty of pop worthy melodies whilst also perforating itself in towards the inner circles of cinematic beauty. It is a reflection of both mortality, the here and now and the ideas of belonging in true Howard fashion.