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Benny Tipene - Bricks Album Review

17 Oct 2014 // A review by Andrew Smit

Bricks has a wonderfully modern folk acoustic sound with meaningful songs bursting with Benny’s soulful expressive vocals and loaded with unique funky rhythms, and crafty guitar accompaniment. There are passionate highs and soulful lows with sweet harmonies and expressive pieces. As a guide here is a synopsis of each track:

Step on up, Swoons and drives with a cool groove and solid funky beat.

No good for me, Solid driving pop that almost rocks, with a great tribal like sing-along chorus.

Lonely, Delicate melodic piece of folk music art, thoughtful and uplifting.

Good Man, Full of vocal strength, bold beats and cool funky guitar rhythms.

Either gone or lost, After a gentle introduction of clean guitar picking the vocal builds with a growing passion, very effective drum crashes add intensity to the chorus.

Hooked on love, A groovy chant with pleasant distant choral backing and very cool electric guitar licks and slicks.

Open ending, Uplifting and captivating, entrancing verses with a chorus bursting with a very cool funk jive.

Give this up, Acoustic, soft clean and raw, with some nice electric guitar grooves and fine harmonies supported by agreeable unique rhythmic guitar strums.

Not coming back, An energetic stomp, great acoustic sound and rhythm.

Young, Beautiful guitar and vocal, sways and soars with serene clarity.

Make you mine, A pleasant rhythmic folk tune, delivered with soul and heart.

As a whole the album is very congenial to the ears, while also stimulating you with unique rhythms and vocal concords, which keeps you interested and before long your singing along and appreciating its many qualities.

 

About Benny Tipene

Prior to becoming a household name in New Zealand, Benny Tipene spent his early years in Palmerston North and initially taught himself the piano in order to learn Let It Be as a tribute to his grandmother. After wanting to play in a band but being told by musicians that no-one played piano in a rock band, he learned guitar. The band then let him in, and they named themselves The Nerines.

Later, Benny ventured over to the UK and Europe on his Big OE, taking a guitar and teaching himself to write songs. Not long after returning home, the 23-year-old heard about The X Factor auditions and went along out of curiosity to see what it was all about – having never seen the show before.

But from that very first audition, Benny had New Zealand hooked – with this faux ‘50s look, skin-tight black jeans and that knee-weakening grin, not to mention his soulful folk voice and charismatic charm.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Benny Tipene

Releases

Toulouse
Year: 2014
Type: EP
Bricks
Year: 2014
Type: Album
Tummy Demo Live
Year: 2013
Type: Album
Benny Tipene
Year: 2012
Type: Album
Room Demo Live 4
Year: 2012
Type: Album
Room Demo Live Complete
Year: 2012
Type: Album

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