Portraits, Ben Bedford’s latest release, is not a new album per se, but a collection of songs from his first three records – Lincoln’s Man (2007), Land of the Shadows (2009) and What We Lost (2012) – none of which received a European release.
The album is a nice collection of folk tunes, with a voice similar to that of Harry Chapin and songs which have a feel of ‘70s John Denver to them. Whilst not as cohesive as an album written at one time, it is a grower. It feels a little front-loaded, making it harder to get into, but it’s worth it. Songs like Lincoln’s Man, The Sangamon, and John the Baptist help to explain why it was felt necessary to provide this collection for the European market.
If you enjoy folk music – especially some of the staples you would find at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival or on BBC Radio 2’s Folk show – give it a listen.
You can purchase the album here
Ben Bedford – Website
