With no release date yet (It might be late November according to Facebook), you can check out a couple of the songs from Ben Brookes’ forthcoming album, The Motor Car & The Weather Balloon, on Youtube. There are ten songs slated for this album from Brookes, who hails from Portsmouth, UK. This is Brookes debut album and it was recorded with “Prince drummer Michael Bland, Bob Dylan keyboardist Greg Inhofer, and Badfinger’s Joey Molland.” “Mark Healey and Randy Anderson, also both of Badfinger renown, respectively produced and played guitar on the record”, according to the press release.
As you listen to Brookes’ music you can distinctly hear many of his influences, from The Beatles to Pink Floyd. The music has an indie-pop sound, with some dark psychedelic undertones.
“Integration (Not Segregation)” is the first song on the album and can be listened to through the original video available on youtube. His music most definitely has a British vibe to it. This song is beautiful in a dark way. It’s a very melodic tune and the vocals seem to add to the instrumentation, instead of drowning it out. Brookes has a great voice and his vocals really make this music whole and complete.
“Stories In The Rain” also has a video on Youtube. This song is very Beatles like. Fans of the Fab Four will love this song. It’s catchy and it has a beat that you can’t beat (pun intended). Brookes shows his talent in this song, with lyrics and vocals that you will enjoy.
If these two songs are a judge of what the rest of the album sounds like then it’s going to be a great beginning for Brookes.
The video for “Integration (Not Segregation)”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZz3kKYxSJs&t=211s
The video for “Stories In The Rain”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqsWiAQgBYs
