Ben Draiman, "The Past Is Not Far Behind". 4.5/ 5 Stars
Ben Draiman’s new release, “The Past Is Not Far Behind”, is a fantastic example of what can happen when you do modern “piano rock” the right way. The album features a nice mix of soft to mid-range rock, with more traditional instruments blended in, creating a beautiful collaboration of sounds. This is especially evident to me on the track “Overcome”, which uses a deeper violin than prior tracks, complimenting Ben’s slightly deeper vocals.
Admittedly, for those who have kept up with Ben’s music or read my reviews in the past, you may notice that a couple of the tracks are the same. Don’t let this turn you off from the album however, as those were also earlier versions of the current tracks. I did enjoy the original “demos”, but the new versions are preferable to me and show his growth. As with all EP’s I review, I just wish there were more songs, but that’s something I’ll have to get over, since it IS an “EP”. My only concern then, is from a technical standpoint. Specifically, the mixing on “Avalanche” feels a bit muddy. There’s just a too much reverb for me, and it overwhelms the instrumental some on the chorus. The issue seems restricted to that track though, so it could be intentional to fit the idea of the song, in which case it does work, but I’m not certain. This alone is why the release gets a 4.5 from me, rather than a full 5 stars, but it’s not enough to ruin the overall package.
The writing is intelligent and clear, very often pointing out the title’s message and the idea that much of what we lose or gain, is dependent on us paying attention to our past failures and successes. At the end of the day, we really are in control of where our journey takes us. I find myself drawn more to the softer tracks on the album. I’m not sure if “ballad” is the right term for them, but Ben certainly thrives in the more piano driven tracks in a way that feels less apparent on his heavier songs. Ironically the heavy tracks were what attracted me to his music to begin with, but they’re the places he visits, not where he lives, and his home is beautiful.
Tracklist:
1. Soon Enough.
2. Avalanche
3. 21 Seconds
4. Would You Know Love
5. Overcome
6. Taken For Granted
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bdraimanmusic
Official Website: http://www.bendraiman.com
