You could say Ben Howard’s 2014 record went against the groove. When his debut album Every Kingdom cleaned up at the Brit Awards the year previous, I doubt many thought he his next album would delve into this dark – in sound rather than substance – experimentation that has shaped his music since. At a time when it was difficult to tell the difference between ten successful singer-songwriters and their pining lyrics, Ben Howard and I Forget Where We Were stood out.

At its core, the record still carries what you might refer to as singer-songwriter themes. It feels intimate, there is always a strong onus on the vocals, however, often songwriters exist in more clear and stripped back environments. Ben Howard’s performances previous to the debut record and after it often consisted of himself with a guitar and his long time friend and bandmate India Bourne playing the cello, for instance.

I Forget Where We Were is much more expansive. Echoey guitar feedback and reverberating vocals bind each song to the next and make this record one which should be religiously listened to in order. His folky, wispy voice is still apparent, but it basks in the cascading sounds of layers upon layers of subtle notes being played carefully to build up to ecstatic swells.

As well as it being an album I love to sit and listen to from first second to last, it also transitions into a live arena seamlessly. In fact, I often get upset listening to Rivers in Your Mouth on the album as we are only ever treated to the screams of: “And you, told me life was learning how to be your friend” live. Although he played End of the Affair sitting down, the screams into the hollow acoustic guitar were consistently captivating. His live sets at this time were so cleverly assembled that Ben and his band even adopted Sharon Van Etten’s Every Time the Sun Comes Up and made it sound like a bonus track from the album.

I enjoyed Noonday Dream and the releases subsequently, as well as the Blaze of Feather project, I just wish I could see this album performed in order and in full again.

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