Singer,  songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben McKelvey's music has always come from a place of complete honesty. With his heart on his sleeve, he delivers memorable and inspirational music with his album Wild Child.

While debut album Life and Love In England explored themes such as society, youth culture, family and love, ‘Wild Child’ goes a step beyond as it focuses on achieving your dreams and learning to live your life to the fullest; for yourself. The album is one filled with soul searching.

 

Starting with ‘Fire’ - a perfect opener with a chorus that sticks with you, it really sets the tone for what’s to follow. Up next is the four to the floor punk banger, ‘Change It Up’ which is about picking yourself up without truckling to adversity and trying again, no matter what. 

 

Trying till you succeed, seems to be a theme within the album as track number three- my personal favourite - ‘Stronger’, with its acoustic and slow-build instrumentals talks of coming back stronger after overcoming life's obstacles. The song, with the feel good atmosphere it creates, is the perfect pick-me-up track and makes you get on with life yourself.

 

In contrast to the full on opening tracks, we have the layered, passionate track ‘One More Day’, check out the video to the track below;

 

 

The title track, ‘Wild Child’, combines all the elements of McKelvey’s songwriting, packaged within an energetic song about self-belief and 'holding on to teenage dreams'. Smooth and up-beat, it manages to be laced with a sadness of letting go of love and making grown-up decisions.

 

With lovelorn lyrics and clear vocals, accompanied by goosebump-inducing minimalist instrumentals, slow-build track ‘ Streets’ makes for a great transition track into the superbly crafted indie-pop offering ‘Lie To Me’.

 

‘Out Of The Blue’ , with its acoustic sound, makes for a perfect penultimate song, as ‘Obvious’ as the final track, comes in with bounding guitars and thumping percussion, closing out the roller coaster journey that ‘Wild Child’ has taken you on.

 

The album is, in its entirety, a voyage of finding your way and changing your own destiny. With a delivery that is mature and down-to-earth, this album takes listeners through a journey that is fundamentally positive and inspirational and just happens to come complete with some of the finest songs I have happened upon in a long time.

 

Review by Malvika Padin

 

Pre-Order Wild Child HERE

 

Catch Ben McKelvey live on tour during May/June 2018 when he supports the legend that is MARTI PELLOW.

17/05/18   BRANGWYN HALL, SWANSEA 

18/05/18   PHILHARMONIC HALL, LIVERPOOL

19/05/18   OPERA HOUSE, MANCHESTER

21/05/18   BARBICAN, YORK

22/05/18   CONVENTION CENTRE, HARROGATE

24/05/18   CLIFFS PAVILION, SOUTHEND

25/05/18   ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

26/05/18   CORN EXCHANGE, CAMBRIDGE 

29/05/18   PAVILION, BOURNEMOUTH 

30/05/18   G LIVE, GUILDFORD 

31/05/18   COLSTON HALL, BRISTOL

02/06/18   THE SAGE, GATESHEAD

03/06/18   DE MONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER 

05/06/18   SYMPHONY HALL, BIRMINGHAM

06/06/18   ROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM

07/06/18   ANVIL, BASINGSTOKE 

09/06/18   ALHAMBRA, DUNFERMLINE

10/06/18   FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH 

11/06/18   ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW

15/06/18   ROCKLIFFE HALL

19/06/18   ASSEMBLY ROOMS, WORTHING

Tickets available HERE