Ben Fink – Continue to Breathe Normally
Continue to Breathe Normally – Ben Fink
by Aidan Roberts
The cover image of this album shows a soft-hued photograph of a free-falling vintage bicycle against the ocean backdrop. It could be interpreted that this image represents some sort of a personal upheaval for Ben Fink, once known as the lead guitarist from The Whitlams, and also a man with an eclectic soul background. All his pop and esoteric influences are evident on this album, Fink’s second solo effort since his debut Origins. Fink’s vocals are flighty, wavering very near to the brink of Buckley or Wainwright, but swings just far enough that he maintains a tasteful individuality. I’m Gonna Get There displays his penchant for gospel harmony and is a treat to open the record with – from there we go through a rustic post-grunge sort of songbook with Lazy, and the languid European soul of Shellshocked. It’s all quite good, if missing the much desired ‘track 9 catharsis’. But Fink is an accomplished soul, and certainly worth a listen.
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