Release Date: May 6th, 2022
Label: Self-released, available as a digital download
from Bandcamp
These further releases
were Great and Terrible Potions (2011), Dissected (By Ben Craven and The Section 2014), Last
Chance To Hear (2016),
and, the album under review Monsters From The Id (2022).
I had been aware of the
music of Ben Craven from the time of the release of album no 2, and featured
tracks from both the two early albums, and then album no 3, on my radio show,
but somehow missed out on the fourth release. When Monsters
of the Id appeared for
review, I was intrigued to see where Ben had gone musically since 2014.
I will say that I did not
get past the first track for over an hour, as it was listened to three times
before continuing. Occasionally, you come across an album that blows you away
from the start, and this is one of those albums, as far as I am concerned.
While listening to the rest of the album and working towards writing this
review, I was aware of other reviews extolling the virtues of this Ben Craven
release. Still, I can summarize the rest of my review very simply. Monsters
Of The Id is a
stunning album, and if you still need to get a copy, you are missing a gem from
2022. This album will feature in my Best Of 2022 radio show early in 2023.
There are two epic-length
tracks and four single/radio edit tracks on this album, as it is unlikely that
many stations will play either of the two 19+ minute tracks. The opening track
on the album, "Die Before You Wake" (19:32), comprises 7 sections,
"Sleeping Spectre", "Ancient Majesty", "Die Before You
Wake Pt 1", "Warming Glow", "Wicked Delights",
"Die Before You Wake Pt 2" and "Endless Night", suggesting
that there are 7 thematic areas within the 19+ min. The opening sequence is
designed to grab your ears from the off, with an insistent thumping beat and a
choir building the tension, before it drops into a quiet short section and then
returns to the starting sequence with the guitar heralding in the section
called "Ancient Majesty." Although the notes supplied suggest an
instrumental album, the dulcet tones of Ben adorn the "Die before You Wake
Pt 1" with the sound slowly building, including the appearance of a
gothic-style choir behind the voice. As the music moves into section 4, there
is some lovely guitar work as the track evolves into a more spacey atmospheric
soundscape with some acoustic guitar and piano coming more to the fore. There
is another guitar-led section, backed by the piano and joined by a synthesizer.
The guitar then takes the theme on to section 5, an orchestral sequence that
evolves into the second part of the "Die Before You Wake" section
with the return of Ben's voice. A guitar and synthesizer section then takes the
track into the final sequence, which returns to the more open, spacey, Floydian
area and towards the return of the gothic-style choir, which takes the track
out.
The instruction at this
point would be to listen to the opening track again before proceeding with the
album. Take another 19+ minutes to let the majestic opening track sink in.
Having done that, move to
track 2, "Amnis Flows Aeternum" (19:11), and prepare to be blown away
again.
I had liked the earlier
material by Ben, but to be honest, nothing prepared me for the sheer excellence
of Monsters From The Id. This is an album that grabs your attention from
the opening few seconds and takes you on a fantastic journey. If you have not
heard this album, do so as soon as possible and be prepared to add it to your
collection.
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson
Oct 13th, 2022
Tracks:
1. Die Before You Wake (19:32)
2. Amnis Flows Aeternum (19:11)
3. Die Before You Wake (Single Edit 4:47)
4. Wicked Delights (Single Edit 2:40)
5. Guiding Voice (Single Edit 3:31)
6. Amnis Flows Aeternum (Single Edit 4:51)
