As well as being a member of Bellowhead and Faustus (and erstwhile of the Seth Lakeman Band), Benji has released a couple of well received solo releases, but it’s the release of ‘Boomerang’ that will really mark his arrival as a solo artist.
Produced by Stu Hanna of Megson, this album has a different feel to Benji’s earlier releases, it’s punchier, fuller sounding and more accessible, and has much in common with the sound and style of Seth’s ‘Freedom Fields’.
While the album has obvious folk roots from in the instrumentation and approach, all the songs are Benji’s own with the exception of the albums’ lone cover of The Band’s ‘The Moon Struck One’. While the omission of any trad. material may raise an eyebrow or two Benji’s songs are excellent throughout and cover a good range of themes; and from the problems of growing up in a rural town through to the tale of a mythical mermaid he convinces with his lyrics and strong melodies.
He has brought together a great list of musicians to create the disc including Seth Lakeman, Pete Flood, Ben Nicholls and John Kirkpatrick, but the star of the show is always Benji’s distinct Bouzouki playing which drives most of the songs here.
Highlights include the insistent title track, the delicate ‘More Life’ and the memorable ‘Wallbreaker’.
‘Boomerang’ is a contemporary folk singer/songwriter album that does almost everything right; a dynamic and varied range of songs, great musicians and instrumentation and an accessibility that makes it instantly enjoyable.
Very highly recommended.


Track listing
1 Wallbreaker
2 More Life
3 Flyover
4 The Moon Struck One
5 Boomerang
6 Willow Weeps
7 The River Maid
8 Rocky Brown
9 People
10 Drift

£12.99