Benjamin Verdoes - The One and the Other

Benjamin Verdoes is a songwriter from the Pacific Northwest who is often known for his unorthodox approach to composition. Going from Atmospheric Electronica to Ambient to even mainstream Alternative Indie in the blink of an eye. He is a very interesting artist, and in the last decade he has written four albums, two as a part Mt. St. Helens Vietnam band Dead Oceans. 'The Evil Eye' which he began composing in 2011 was his first recording released under his own name Benjamin Verdoes, and 'The One and the Other' is the follow up EP.

This release contains all new material and comes only one year after the release of his debut solo album. 'The One and the Other' shows how he has tried to evolve as an artist, in the last twelve months. But the question is has he evolved or has he gone back a few paces. Benjamin also currently plays alongside Nathan Quiroga in the emerging Seattle band Iska Dhaaf. He definatly has a distinctive voice, the blend of the music and the vocals sound like a cross between Aiden Grimshaw, Patrick Cleandenim, Rupurt Stroud, Cold Cave and Mothlite.

The problem I have with this album, is some of the production. A lot of the music sounds like it is echoing, like the bands is playing in an empty arena at the beginning of an all day festival. This is noticed from opening track 'Highly Emotional', where you can't properly hear the vocals and music. I think this has been done to give the track a certain atmosphere, because it continues through out the album. I just think it is a shame because it makes the music sound like a backing track of beats and a metronome, than a finished piece of music on a CD.

The Electronic keyboards on second track 'Night Walk' are really nice, when you listen more carefully to them and the Foals Esq. guitar is simply brilliant. I think it's a new fad with Electronica and Darkwave to have the sound mixed weird , but it just doesn't work. 'Above Ground' contains whispering and drawn out low vocals, and the spoken word bit half way through is a little scary. As an piece of art this CD is brilliant and this song really resembles Patrick Cleandenim in place an artist that I really love, so this is a good thing. Possibly the best track on the album is 'Is this all that we Are', which has a very good atmospheric harmony to it.

And if it had been been put more into Alternative / Indie song it could resemble the work of Coldplay on their last record the 2014 'Ghost Stories'. The piano is really beautiful, and really makes the song. Also the majority of the vocals are really strong, but their are a few out of place. But I do think Sigur Ros would be happy with this song in their back catelogue. 'Beautiful dying World' sounds a little like a weird brand of church music, before going a little singer songwriter. Beautiful, haunting, a little disturbing and a little depressing until it hits a great Synth line that really brings out the song and turns it into something more. 

Last track 'Eight oh Eight' brings the EP to a close with more church sounding vocals and music which sound like they belong on a Mothlite album. This is a great CD if I want a backing track while I am working late at night, or to put on when I want to fall asleep on the night bus late at night. But it would not be something I would run out and by or put on to sing-a-long to. This is a shame when I think their could have been some great tracks on this EP, if they had done them slightly differently.

 

Check Out! the Video for 'So Bari' Below... (this is a little different to the material on the EP)