There has been a recent transition from purely acoustic to full band for BEN FORRESTER. Whether this has been a positive move or not is displayed on his newest EP ‘Mon Univers Est A Toi’. Happily, ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ is a catchy little tune; it ticks all the major singalong boxes – hand clapping, rousing chants and hooky melodies. This is the best demonstration on the EP of Forrester’s talent for mixing pop sensibilities with simple but effective refrains, like “I drink to love and not to get laid”. Some of these songs have been previously released as acoustic tracks, and the reworked ‘Urgency’ sounds great with a full band behind it. It builds up momentum which adds a sense of urgency to the sound, making the title even more appropriate. This is the case for all the songs, and though Ben Forrester‘s acoustic tracks still have a good sound to them, it’s great to be able to appreciate both versions for their different attractions. There is still some way to go in developing the sound because not all the arrangements are perfect; ‘And Her Face Was A Picture’ seems a little scatty at times. However, on the whole this is simply good indie pop, and definitely worth a listen.
JOSIE MARTIN