Admittedly this writer was drawn to Irish roots rocker Ben Reel when learning that the album was produced by Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack. Then, Reel’s voice just took over – so soulful, so confident and such a perfect complement to his poetic lyrics. And, when Garry W. Tallent’s (E-Street Band) name appeared as bassist, it sealed the deal, just had to listen to the whole album. The Nashville Calling needs to be heard beyond just a small circle of Nashville’s Americana clan or music journalists. These are songs that helped Reel escape the strife in Northern Ireland. These are songs about the resilience and the brave. They could be soundtracks and theme songs for the first responders in our current health pandemic, although, of course, they weren’t written for that reason. As Womack says about Reel, “Blessed with a vision and his tremendous voice, he gets inside his words and music and makes magic.”
The album was recorded in just three days, all with live takes. In addition to Kimbrough and Womack on guitars, Tallent on bass, Evan Hutchings did the drumming while Reel’s wife, Julieanne sang backing vocals. Reel has been called “The Irish Springsteen” and when listening to tracks such as the opening “All in Good Time” and the closer, “Borrowed Time,” the resemblance is uncanny. Tallent must have been doing double takes during the sessions. In troubadour tradition Reel addresses the world and how it needs to stop looking at the past in “New Jerusalem.” In “Imagination,” he begs the world to think outside the box with problem-solving. Ben gets romantic as well, with songs like “Fine Wine” and “Like A Breeze,” like conversations that might take place in the kitchen or on the back porch under the stars. And, to be fair, he sounds like others besides Springsteen on some tracks, absorbing Memphis soul, Texas swing, and early rock n’ roll.
Reel, as many may know, is no newcomer. The Nashville Calling is Reel’s ninth album, throughout a successful 20-plus year career that has carried him through the years, between Europe, Canada, and the U.S. Since his debut album This Is the Movie back in 1999, Ben has reinvented himself from record to record, influenced by different styles of music over the years. As one critic said, “He’s not afraid to throw in some in folk, soul, reggae vibes, which in turn call to mind John Hiatt at his best.” Ben’s last effort, Land Of Escape, had him exploring social and cultural issues that Americana-UK called “intelligent” and “slow-burning.”
The album is chock full of great songs, melodically, lyrically and of the gut-punching variety too. One of the standout tracks is “Up There In The Sky,” the video for which was filmed at an Irish boxing club using black and white film. The song is all about grabbing life by the horns, taking chances and above all, having the self-confidence to do so: “Everybody’s got one moment in their life/When all the stars align/Everybody’s got one title shot/When all the luck is on your side/When you’ve got that hunger in your heart/And you know it is your time/ And you’ve been touched by the hand of God/And you glow like a blinding light”
His heart-wrenched vocal in “Safe and Sound” is chill-inducing. He becomes a convincing crooner on “Round the Next Bend” where his voice, reaching notes like Roy Orbison, blends beautifully with Julieanne. Another great lyrical song is “Broken” where the lyrics hearken back to his time in Ireland. Sounding like Dylan with his harmonica and opening lyric – “Broken people, broken homes, broken nose, broken bones” and later “Hard times come; hard times stay/Some folks know no other way /Struggling just to get through this hard day/Struggling most their lives away”
Reel is a native of Silverbridge, South Armagh, in Ireland, and soon after high school at the age of 17, he started his musical career in 1989 performing and songwriting with the local band, Trim The Velvet, before going solo in the late nineties. He first picked up the guitar when he was fifteen years old, inspired by the realness of the likes of Springsteen, Van Morrison, and Neil Young, whose music struck a chord that resonated deep into Reel’s psyche. Reel proudly wears these comparisons on his chest when it comes to his approach to performing and writing. One of the most exhilarating moments of being a songwriter is to write with your fellow artists, and Ben has a legendary list for himself. Amongst them are Hal Ketchum, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Tony McLoughlin, Irene Kelly, and the late great David Olney.
Over the past decade, Ben has toured in Ireland, UK, Europe, and the U.S., building a growing loyal fan base. He will occasionally perform as solo or duo with his wife Julieanne or with his Dutch band `The Haarlem Boys,’ but mainly he plays with his Irish band Ben Reel Band. Reel has all the ingredients of the best roots rockers – swagger, attitude, heart and a way with words. And, his voice is so much better than most. Listen up.
