Ben Arsenault
Turning Back
It’s easy to believe that Country music has lost its way when you’re surrounded by songs with a vocal twang sung over Hip Hop beats, snaps and lap steel guitars (I’m looking at you Bro Country). Thankfully, there are artists out there that are upholding it’s honest, acoustic roots with great stories, proper instrumentation and unique voices. That’s true with Ben Arsenault, a songwriter and artist from Vancouver, B.C. who’s just released his second single, “Turning Back.” Here’s our review:
Track starts with a simple acoustic riff in the key of G, about 110 BPM. Bass, drums and lap steel gently sweep in to create a beautiful open space reminding us of the Canadian Rockies and Cascades. When Ben’s voice drops in you know you’ve got something unique on your hands. It’s a higher alto with a tone similar to Levon Helm. Love the phrasing here - it’s not typical. The chord progression is straight ahead, but it’s the phrasing and length of the lines that make it unique. When the chorus sweeps in on the minor six to the four, it’s a gentle push that takes us into the deeper feels of Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson - a simple chorus with a non-standard verse - and it works beautifully. Love how the chorus turns on the five with some simple accents.
Second verse picks up the intensity just enough to take us higher as the lyrics develop and he pours his heart out. He’s conjuring up images of the water and the landscape of his native BC, and the music perfectly fits the text. Second chorus beautifully sweeps in and I’m hooked on the line, “If I held back every single time…..” it fits so perfectly in the groove. Love the nice twist for the ending here - it’s a bit more complicated rhythmically - and he adds in a fiddle before taking us to a beautiful solo section with a harmonica. Then we’re back into another chorus and the entire structure has remained beautifully intact. Great mix and production, great story, great flow.
If you’re a fan of Neil Young, The Band, Kris Kristofferson or Merle Haggard then this is an artist for you. It’s rare when you find a voice like this, and when you couple it with his ability to compose it creates a beautiful package. This track is part of a full length LP that is due out in the coming weeks and we look forward to kicking back with our favorite speakers and taking it all in. You can tell from this track, and “Hold On To You,” that Ben is a writer’s writer and bound to be a critical favorite. It would be great to see him perform this live, not just here in Nashville but in his native BC. Good work, sir, we look forward to the full release!