At a time when anything that even remotely whiffs of a rootsy sound is suddenly branded Americana by gatekeeping tastemakers and pointless pigeonholers, this latest single from August Benjamin is a great reminder that music always comes from more than one place and is always more than the sum of its more obvious paths and parts. And although Benjamin calls the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont home, I would say that his new single, ‘Rose Marie,’ would be every bit as comfortable in the contemporary British or Irish roots-rock scene. They are at least distant cousins, both drawing on Celtic roots and troubadour traditions as a springboard.
And the song’s narrative perhaps echoes that more than anything: the story of someone leaving an old life behind and heading to the New World, a timeless, familiar tale set to a cool rock-and-roll groove and laced with finessed playing. Guitars trace delicate sonic lines across the musical page, beats are purposefully unfussy, acoustic sounds chime through, and keyboards ebb and flow in the distance. Above it all, Benjamin’s gift for narrative shines through, reminiscent in style, if perhaps not more obviously the sound of Seth Lakeman, and that’s a strong reference point for anyone working in these sonic circles.
With an album due soon and a number of well-received singles behind him, August Benjamin is certainly the man of the moment, and what a moment it is shaping up to be!
