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Ben has surrounded himself with some top class musicians that help make the music sound great
but it is Ben’s voice and guitar that truly come to the fore. He has an ability to craft lyrics that
create imagery and a voice that touches your soul. ‘The Last Chance Farm’ my favourite song on
the album really connects with the listener in a way that you might listen to your best mate in a late
night bar.

For us blues fans this album is not strictly of the genre but names such as Townes Van Zandt, Steve
Earle and Nick Cave whom he has been likened to give you an indication of where his music sits.
Nonetheless this is a fine album and worth checking out.

Ged Wilson

Trower Priest and Brown - United State of Mind - Manhaton
Records

Three UK music legends have come together to release the album
‘United State of Mind’. Robin Trower is well known to blues rock
fans for his classic album ‘Bridge of Sighs’ as well as his earlier
work with Procol Harum. Maxi Priest has had a string of hit
records and is acknowledged as a successful reggae fusion artist.
Livingstone Brown is a talented producer/mix engineer as well
as a musician.

The album opens with the title track ‘United State of Mind’ and
straight away we can hear the fantastic voice of Maxi Priest. ‘Are
We Just People’ is a little more laid back with a more bluesy feel thanks to Robin Trower’s guitar
work. ‘On Fire Like Zsa Zsa’ smoulders with some distinctive wah wah guitar from Robin. It’s good
to hear a cowbell in there too! (You may remember a cowbell on ‘Lady Love’ on the ‘Bridge of Sighs’
album). There is a real jazzy blues feel about the slow paced ‘Walking Wounded’ with some tasteful

guitar from Robin once again.

This album is not really a blues album but more of a pop album. The tracks are laden with strings,
brass and pads that fill out the sound but don’t really enhance it to my ears. I find the songs all very
“samey” in that they seem to follow the same format and lack dynamics. For pop songs they seem to
lack a “hook”.

If you listen to ‘Close to You’ by Maxi Priest it has a real bounce and freshness about it that is
missing from this album. If you listen to ‘Soul ll Soul’ for example, you can hear how their use of
strings and pads adds a real vibrancy, once again this seems to be lacking.

On the plus side Maxi Priest has a fantastic voice and sounds great here, whilst Robin Trower

provides some real classy snippets of his distinctive guitar work, as in the way he takes it out on
the closing track, ‘Where Our Love Comes From’. This album is well produced and pleasant but is
not my bag I’m afraid. But hey, don’t let me put you off, please do give it a spin and judge for
yourself.

Ged Wilson