After a long 7 years its comes to somewhat joy to announce Brendan Benson’s new album DEAR LIFE arrives via Third Man Records on 24th April. It feels such the right time for singer, songwriter and producer to get back to making music. “There’s something about this record,” Benson says. “A friend of mine called it ‘life-affirming.’ I thought it was a joke at first but then realised, well, it’s about life and death for sure. I don’t know if that’s positive or optimistic or whatever, but that’s what’s going on with me.”
First single titled “Good To Be Alive” Starting with ominous piano chords its the fractured stabs that herald a change to the indie Brendan of old. Get a minute in and its full on Disco with use of auto tune and chorus affected vocals laid over programmed drum beats. It’s brings a synthetic feel to his sound and leaves Benson accepting of the pains of getting older, optimistically chanting It’s good to be alive.
The use of drum machines comes out of necessity as his own studios were being demolished and turned into a parking lot, so he had to reconfigure some semblance of a working studio fast. “I put most of my stuff in storage and moved into the basement of my home with a very stripped down setup,” Benson tells American Songwriter. “No drums, no loud guitar amps—I was forced to use other methods.”
Theres still life after 3 decades in the music industry with Brendan finishing the song proudly declaring ‘I still feel young inside’
Check it out, here.
