Ben Howard - The Fear

Island Records has had a history of having great folk singers on their roster. Just Nick Drake and John Martyn on their own could justify this statement but there are many more too. With Ben Howard signing last year and his debut album released already, they could have the next big thing on their hands in the world of folk.

"The Fear" is the fourth track released from his debut album, "Every Kingdom". In it, you can hear many influences including the likes of Mumford & Sons, The Gaslight Anthem and to an extent, a similar vocal style to Ed Sheeran.

Overall, it's a good song. It starts off with a nice, little folky riff before kicking into life with dramatic percussion and Ben's tender vocals. It's quite clear that Ben is a very talented songwriter as he croons his way through some of the better lyrics I've heard in a song this year. The song comes to an end with a refrain that builds up to a crescendo as Ben sings "I'll become what I deserve" over and over, capping what is, arguably, the highlight of the song.

Unfortunately though, we've all heard this before. As I listened to it, I couldn't help thinking how similar it is to Mumford & Sons. I have no doubt that this song will do very well, both in critical terms as well as chart success but it offers nothing new in an industry where fans & critics demand originality.


SMc