Old Sea Brigade
Ode To A Friend

Behind the curious pseudonym Old Sea Brigade hides the American singer-songwriter Ben Cramer.

Born in Atlanta but relocated to Nashville, Cramer caught attention with a series of very solid EPs, among which two tracks stood out in particular, "Tidal Wave" and "Love Brought Weight". These were well received by both the public and the specialized press. Therefore, it wasn't long before a recording contract with the forward-thinking Nettwerk came, allowing the young multi-instrumentalist to release this full-length debut.

Named "Ode To A Friend" (a title decided during production after the premature death of Ben's best friend) and produced by Jeremy Griffith, the album is comprised of eleven tracks that continue the musical thread of the preceding EPs, this time with the precise goal of enriching the sound in an organic and non-intrusive manner. Thus, in Cramer's indie folk rock, we start to hear the piano ("an old out-of-tune piano") and strictly analog synths; the new additions work and blend perfectly with the typical minimalist and dreamy approach of the American multi-instrumentalist's songs.

Starting with the beautiful opening "Sinkhole," "Ode To A Friend" is a truly well-written, perfectly crafted, and cohesive album. There are no dull moments, but perhaps it lacks a touch of personality to make the tracks stand out more for originality; nonetheless, Cramer showcases excellent songwriting skills and very interesting interpretative abilities.

In this sense, the wonderful "Seen A Ghost," the very minimalist single "Hope," and the fantastic "Straight To The Sun" stand out more, a masterpiece of balance that hints at unexpected qualities of a future hitmaker for the good Ben. Even when the arrangements become more loaded with additional elements, the sonic blend holds perfectly, as seen in "Resistance" (fans of The National will be sincerely grateful).

Ultimately, a good debut for Old Sea Brigade, a pleasant way to start 2019 with music, with the hope of finding more personality and courage in the future works of this interesting young artist.

Best track: Straight To The Sun