Ben Watt’s second solo album (the first since 1983’s North Marine Drive) sees him team up with ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler and Berlin-based producer Ewan Pearson for 10 unassuming songs about life, loss, grief and the like. There’s an unmannered honesty to Watt’s singing and lyrics, and numbers such as the opener, Hendra, and the bucolic The Levels – which features a turn from David Gilmour on slide guitar and charts the banal details of folding up a business, a life – are very affecting. John Martyn-esque tracks like Golden Ratio (lovely guitar from Butler here) are balanced by the riffing, declamatory Nathaniel. Nice work.

My new album. ‘Hendra’, is out now (except North America, Apr 29). It is essentially a folk-rock album in an electronic age. Recorded in London and Berlin, the music is a meeting of worlds: languid folk, distorted rock and buzzing electronics; in part a result of the album’s two central collaborators, ex-Suede guitarist, Bernard Butler, and Berlin-based producer Ewan Pearson. The album also includes one other unexpected stellar cameo on ‘The Levels’ – Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. Hope you love it. – Ben Watt

Bonus Deep Folk Mixtape:

Rain. Saturday. A mixtape. 38 mins.

Michael Chapman / The Last Polish Breakfast
Blitzen Trapper / Below The Hurricane
Hans Appleqvist / Jag en gök
Desertshore / Pollen Hinges
Neil Young / Will To Love
Van Morrison / Beside You (Acapella)
White Magic / Katie Cruel
Talk Talk / New Grass
Bert Jansch / Running From Home

Mixed with additional found sounds, field recordings, additional original synth, space echo

This is a non-commercial, non-profit mix. If you like any of the artists featured, please seek them out and buy their music.

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