Ben
Lee is a talented songwriter and performer. But sometimes in the
past he's done his music no favours. He's been arrogant and boastful,
and knows it. In some ways he regrets it, and in other ways he thinks
it was necessary. "I grew up in punk rock", he explains, enthusiastically.
"I was burning bridges. It created space for me to work in. I could
very easily have been somebody's darling". He was almost the 'flavour
of the month'. His attitude didn't let that happen. Talking about
his new album 'Awake Is The New Sleep" Ben says he that what he
once did unconsciously he now does consciously. He was compelled
to make music and the reason didn't matter. He's still compelled,
but now he understands why. "I now know where I sit in the scheme
of things". Instead of burning bridges he's working on his strengths.
He's focusing on the music, letting that do more of the talking.
If you thought he'd lost his way, on 'Awake Is The New Sleep' you'll
find Ben Lee's music-making in top form. What we've never had before
was an album where we can decide we can like Ben Lee as a person.
That's what we get with 'Awake Is The New Sleep'. He says in one
song 'I'm not writing songs about you any more", but of course by
writing that song he's doing exactly what he said he wasn't doing.
And that's the message of the whole album. There's a soft pain living
in these songs and if he doesn't want it to be a constant in these
songs it actually is. We've always known him to be a great songwriter,
and he's known it. He's been showing off all these years, doing
all sorts of things with his music because he can. Here maybe he's
finally doing it for himself and the songs turn out to be some of
the best he's given us. Clearly he's lost a love but he's not down
on it. It almost becomes a statement of triumph. Gamble everything
on love he says, not in hope but on reflection. He gambled, lost,
but is glad he took the gamble. Now that Ben's lost, he'd like to
know what "he" (the other person) knows about her, and wants to
know him as well. It's a kind of jealousy that's endearing rather
than possessive. The whole album is about love and moving on, but
also savouring with a tinge of melancholy what's been. (Inertia)
Ben
Lee is a talented songwriter and performer. But sometimes in the
past he's done his music no favours. He's been arrogant and boastful,
and knows it. In some ways he regrets it, and in other ways he thinks
it was necessary. "I grew up in punk rock", he explains, enthusiastically.
"I was burning bridges. It created space for me to work in. I could
very easily have been somebody's darling". He was almost the 'flavour
of the month'. His attitude didn't let that happen. Talking about
his new album 'Awake Is The New Sleep" Ben says he that what he
once did unconsciously he now does consciously. He was compelled
to make music and the reason didn't matter. He's still compelled,
but now he understands why. "I now know where I sit in the scheme
of things". Instead of burning bridges he's working on his strengths.
He's focusing on the music, letting that do more of the talking.
If you thought he'd lost his way, on 'Awake Is The New Sleep' you'll
find Ben Lee's music-making in top form. What we've never had before
was an album where we can decide we can like Ben Lee as a person.
That's what we get with 'Awake Is The New Sleep'. He says in one
song 'I'm not writing songs about you any more", but of course by
writing that song he's doing exactly what he said he wasn't doing.
And that's the message of the whole album. There's a soft pain living
in these songs and if he doesn't want it to be a constant in these
songs it actually is. We've always known him to be a great songwriter,
and he's known it. He's been showing off all these years, doing
all sorts of things with his music because he can. Here maybe he's
finally doing it for himself and the songs turn out to be some of
the best he's given us. Clearly he's lost a love but he's not down
on it. It almost becomes a statement of triumph. Gamble everything
on love he says, not in hope but on reflection. He gambled, lost,
but is glad he took the gamble. Now that Ben's lost, he'd like to
know what "he" (the other person) knows about her, and wants to
know him as well. It's a kind of jealousy that's endearing rather
than possessive. The whole album is about love and moving on, but
also savouring with a tinge of melancholy what's been. (Inertia)