Ben Poole Anytime You Need Me cd review

International Blues/Rock/Soul guitarist, singer and songwriter Ben Poole has just released  his brand new studio album Anytime You Need Me on Friday 14th September via Manhaton Records. The new album follows Ben’s critically acclaimed albums Time Has Come (2016) and Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Recorded by the BBC in 2014).

The new album was recorded at Superfly Studios in Ollerton Nottinghamshire produced by King King's  Wayne Proctor who doubles up on drums too as well as song writing duties with Ben and Steve Wright too.Comprising10 tracks with 8 originals and 2 covers that include Dirty Laundry from Don Henley and Start The Car by Jude Anthony Cole.

Ben's band is rounded out by Beau Barnard on bass and Ross Stanley on Hammond, Wurlitzer, piano and synth.

The songs were crafted in the hills of North Wales over the course of 6 months with demo's lovingly produced so few over dubs required when recording took place.

For me it has a wonderful live in the studio feel with Wayne's superb production giving every instrument a place to breath and be heard whether that be a vocal line,drum fill,bass rhythm,Hammond interlude or of course Ben's wonderful emotive passionate guitar solo's.

 With Ben's velvet touch vocal delivery and the laid back feel of some of the material there is a good chance of cross over to a wider audience with it begged to be played on radio stations countrywide.

That's not to say there isn't plenty of Ben's blues guitar leanings with last track Holding On built on a fuzzy riff with a heavier blues guitar solo and a chance for him to show case his talent with Hammond add libs too.

Opener and title track Anytime You Need Me starts with a funky but heavy riff and Wayne's rock solid drum rhythm driving the song on with a great chorus show casing Ben's superb vocal delivery.

Take It No More has a fuzzed up guitar riff and huge drum and bass rhythm track and leads into another chorus that will be on repeat listen.Love the depth the Hammond gives with out being too in your face.You can imagine the song in the live setting being a show stopper ast the lengthy guiatr solo is extended.

You Could Say is a gentle number with a funk under current and a superb guitar solo that is all style and technique and showing Ben's versatility.

Found Out The Hard Way builds from slow picked beginnings that segues into a picked guitar solo with the rhythm team holding it together before the outro sees a slght increase in pace and a lengthy guitar solo full of emotion and held notes.Another sure fire live number.

Dirty Laundry is wonderful and always brings a smile to my face with Ben's guitar solo add libs adding to the funky feel of the original.2 lead break's from Ben that I am sure would see Don Henley nodding along appreciatively.

Start The Car is a bluesy take on Jude Anthony Cole's with Hammond again adding depth and the stop start guitar riff prevalent.

Don't Cry For Me is a soulful ballad full of emotive vocals and guitar playing begging to be played with the top down on the car and the breeze in your hair.

Let Me Be is another fuzzed guitar riff led song and love the way the Hammond fills in the gaps to the stop start guitar riff.A harder edged guitar solo tops the song off superbly.

The aforementioned Holding On brings it all together on an album that should see Ben Poole rise to prominence continue as he is one of the UK's finest musical talents.

Superb.