Some albums are meant to be played reverently in their entirety, and I knew I was protecting an hour in my day to listen to and review Georgia’s Ben Chapman’s new album, Downbeat.
Produced by the roots-rock-meets-soul artist Anderson East at his Nashville studio, Chapman’s third album – in three consecutive years – reveals even more of himself in the ten tracks; “I’ve lived almost every song on this record. The lyrics are better, my tone is sweeter, and I'm finding out who I am, what I want to say, and how to say it”.
We’ve been celebrating Chapman’s brand of hypnotic country funk soul groove at Entertainment Focus, since first hearing him live at London’s Country to Country music festival earlier this year and just disappearing into the music, mind and body; exactly why live music is essential for the heart of both performers and audiences. Indeed, Chapman celebrated Downbeat’s launch with the final Peach Jam night of 2024 at Nashville’s famed Basement East, performing with friends including Cleto Cordero and Muscadine Bloodline and the Instagram stories revealed an envious night of fun.
Album opener ‘Almost Home’ is an upbeat driving song aptly describing life on the road wrestling with life, “I break out the guitar, hope it’s in tune/life ain’t nothing but the 12 bar blues…trying like hell to get back to you”.
The beat slows on California track ‘Star of Monterey’ but gets no less intense, reflecting on the memory of a returning love in almost five minutes of disappearing time.
One of the strongest tracks on the album, ‘Don’t You Dare’ continues with the slowed down pace, thinking about the future of love in his honeyed tones ‘you got me where you want me, I ain’t going anywhere/so if you’re thinking about breaking my heart, don’t you dare…who would I tell all my secrets too…get all my dirty jokes? It’s a once in a life kind of thing’.
Title track, ‘Downbeat’ cuts a new shoulder move in the sound of the changing tempo, sharing insights into performances from smaller venues with “two cousins in a corner about to start a fight” though they’re not sure why, momentarily stopped by the pull of the music; “when the downbeat comes, everything’s alright” is a gorgeous hook (and potential life motto).
The juxtaposition of lyrical lows of touring and sweet, sweet steel guitar and bass makes ‘Temporary High’ one of the best songs on Chapman’s Downbeat. Hearing this is like hearing the best of the sixties’ artists I never got to see live, Otis Redding, and it stills the soul like Dock of the Bay. Each time I hear it I’m taken back to Chapman’s London’s stages with these sound waves pouring over a stunned crowd.
The music kicks up a few notches on ‘If I Was You’ with its sublime Led Zeppelin sound, which at under three minutes is just too short; I’m sure Chapman could handle a fourth album nodding to ‘70s rock.
As the album leads towards the final song, ‘Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You’, I want to draw your ears to Meg McRee, whose captivating voice needs more listening to; her ‘60’s-edged sound played well at The Long Road festival this summer, but I missed it – if you caught her set let us know what you thought on EF Country socials. Both Chapman and McRee are songwriters on GRAMMY and CMA winner Hilary Lindsey’s publishing label Hang Your Hat Music, a co-venture with Concord Music.
If you’ve not yet heard of Ben Chapman yet, enjoy an hour with Downbeat (and the back catalogue); perfect for fans of Drake White, Brent Cobb and just very good music.
Ben, come on back to the UK anytime to tour Downbeat; bring the (peach) jam and the fam.
Track list: 1. Almost Home 2. Star of Monterey 3. Don’t You Dare 4. Downbeat 5. Temporary High 6. If I Was You 7. Finish What You Started 8. Baby Don’t Cry, It’s Saturday Night 9. America’s Sweetheart 10. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (with Meg McRee) Release Date: December 13th Record Label: Hippie Shack Buy ‘Downbeat' right here
