Ben Reel: Time to get Real BEN REEL plays rock with a touch of blues and roots and the occasional injection of reggae. Critically acclaimed all over Europe, his vocals are soulful and his lyrics meaningful. Time to Get Real, is the Castleblayney-based songwriter’s fifth album in 10 years. ‘It’s an earthy album which reflects the need to get back to reality in these post-boom times,’ says the South Armagh native. ‘Ireland lost its way and a bit of its soul in the last decade; now it’s time to get back to basics.’ Since his debut, This is the Movie, back in 1999, each album has gone from strength to strength, covering different styles of music along the way from rock, soul, roots to reggae to funk. Now, with this new album, Ben’s music has evolved into an honest earthy, soulful sound that has matured like a fine wine. Following the radio hit earlier this year with U People, an instantly catchy collaboration with the famous Rainbow George, Ben is also back with hints of reggae on Old and Wise, the ninth track on the new album. Ben first picked up the guitar when he was 15 years-old, inspired by the authenticity of the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. Their influence is still reflected today in Ben's passionate and heart-on-the-sleeve approach to performing and writing, but his sound is very much his own. In February 08 RTE Radio 1 broadcasted a full live Ben Reel gig as part of their In Concert series. His band has performed Blas Ceoil on BBC2 N. Ireland, Dave Fanning's The 11th Hour show on RTE2 and the Ray Darcy’s Today FM Show, while U People was featured on Tony Fenton’s download of the day. In October 09 the band played 2 songs live in session on Pat Kennys morning show on RTE radio 1. In the last 10 years he has supported celebrated names like Jools Holland, Alabama 3 and The Cranberries. He has performed U People with the late great Ian Dury’s legendary Blockheads, and has recorded the song with award winning saxophonist Gilard Atzman. In the last two years Ben has enjoyed successful tours in Holland, Belgium and Germany, receiving rave reviews and attracting a growing fan base. Along the way he has played with some of the finest musicians in Ireland as his backing band and has built a loyal underground following. Often described as an artist lying beneath the radar for way too long, this simmering pot is about to boil. For further info: www.myspace.com/benreelband www.benreel.com ben_reel@hotmail.com tel:00442830860305 / 00353868469935 BEN REEL – REVIEWS Summers Always here" is an easy-breezy, Dylan-y affair while "Feel Alive" is upbeat acoustic soul at it's best" 'hotpress' (Celina Murphy) Oct 09 It’s time to get serious is the signal Ben Reel gives with the release of his latest cd “Time to Get Reel”. Wasn’t he before? Haven’t got a clue because for me Ben Reel is a complete stranger. He is (northern) Irish and has been working at his craft for quite some time. “Time to Get Reel” sure is a good way to get to know him and the cd is full of piercing impulses. Delicate songs, strongly carried by the accompanying musicians, but by no tarnishing ben’s Vocals. (His vocals show comparisons to Rod MacDonald and John Stewart). I hope that I grow old and wise suggests that Ben has come to an age where he starts realising his own mortality, what undoubtedly determines the profundity you find again in his lyrics. With what I don’t want to affect his compositions. As I said before, I only know Reels past from what I read in his biography, But “Time to get Reel” indeed looks like the start of a new development, a new awakening. No trace of a personal crisis. My guts tell me Ben Reel has defined he wants to make a good product. One he will be remembered by. The closing song “Old Bog Road” tells of a permanent goodbye Ben Reel manages to create a excellent variation of styles, and within a limited nr of spins I still a real positive feeling about Ben Reel. Serious, skilful. driven …. (after the official songs there is a hidden track, a live song, where you hear the presence of a modern day Elvis. Not renewed, but very entertaining. www.rootstime.be /Rein van den Berg Oct 09 The Irish hearts are often rather melancholic. Maybe the beautiful sceneries see to a tendensy of warmth and retirement. It characterizes at any rate the dark songs of Ben Reel, which the cover of the newest album, time to get real, suggest. Eleven songs written by reel himself and richly arranged with violin, piano, appropriate guitar lines and a choice of extra additioned instruments. With this the Irish know how to display a large scale of spheres and feelings, carying names as Neil Young and sometimes Bob Dylan. Indeed in rags, because Ben Reel is a slippery costumer. Ben’s first album, “this is the movie”, came out in Ireland in 1999, after this the EP ëxorcise me”(2000) only with 3 tracks, which seemed to be forerunner for his second album “Lost in Haze” (2001). After that came Sweet Victory (2004), U People (2006) and New Horizon (2007). We don’t have to complain about man’s releases and qualities: guitarplayer Ben Reel, born in silverbridge but now living in Castlebalyney, is a supreme storyteller; has a pleasant voice, writes, beside that, upperclass songs and has also the quality to gather very able musicians around him. At his new album Ben Reel is accompanied again by a fine equilibiated band: Ronnie, Michael. Mickey, John, Colin. And now we are calling names: the recordings were done in the Attic studios with producer Ronan who also has a vocal contribution in the last two songs. In the quite openers Rainy Summers etc. we hear Reel’s wife Julieanne who takes the change of the singing second. Anyway, in their natural but yet larger soundscape is more than enough space for improvisation and variety, which we can hear clearly on their new album. What Ben has settled with this successor is impressing. In 11 songs the band knows to create an oppressing atmosphere, which gets enlightened only now and then. Rasping and grating, then again with deceptive lovely acoustic guitars, then with thin guitarsounds and spacious violin, the listener is taking to a voyage through the Deep South of the mind, which only can turn out bad. It is oppressing, dark, stirring and especially very beautiful. Roots, pop and folk are going hand in hand with now and then an experimental strain. The point is that Ben Reel makes magnificent music. Music that mixes influences from alt-country with the atmospheric and darkness the music from Ireland so often charcterizes. Music that attracts attention by the variety and the highstanding music, because they really can play. Ben Reel searches, with his new album, joining with the greatness of the alt-country, but takes here at the same time surrender. Time to get real is just a good patterncard of the ability of the Ben Reel Band. Everything sounds beautiful, clear and especially respectable. The sharp ends are removed expertly and almost everything is produced in a way that it has to be specially accessed for the singersongwriter radiosize. Freddie Cells http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2009/OKT1/CD89.htm www.rootstime.be Put simply and aptly, New Horizon is all killer, no filler! Rarely have I heard an album so complete and so fully realised. From the brilliance of the playing and arranging to the magnificence of Reel's voice, this is heaven all the way. A superb album by an artist good enough to hold his own in rock’s premiere league. Andrew Hobbs, Hi Fi + magazine When it comes to making classy albums, Ben Reel's your man. Year on year, Reel's songwriting is growing in stature in every department, yet he still doesn't get the wide spread recognition he richly deserves it's one of the strongest albums this year. This CD isn't just music: it's art. AllGigs.co.uk review of New Horizon, 8th October 2007 Ben Reel, a native of South Armagh, has in the words of one journalist ‘operated under the media’s radar for far too long’. On the evidence of this release, his fourth album, I would have to agree. The songs and the playing are really impressive, an earthy mix of rock, roots and blues, all mixed lovingly together with soulful vocals. His song writing shows maturity and progression which comes through with repeated plays. Featuring some great slide guitar from Micky McCarney and terrific vocals from Kelie Redmond, “Hell In Ur Own Head” is a standout, closely followed by the semi spoken “When Will Be Ever Be Free”. “For U And I” shows the band at their best with a lovely rock/soul groove that you wish would go on longer. All in all this is an impressive album from a major talent who needs further investigation. Chris Field, Birmingham Post ‘Ben Reel stands at the threshold of true greatness as an artist.’ Pat Cunnane, Radio Kerry Discography 1999 This Is The Movie 2001 Lost In The Haze 2004 Sweet Victory 2005 U people (single) 2007 New Horizon 2009 Time To Get Real