Ben Davis - Aided & Abetted

Ben Davis
Aided & Abetted
Lovitt Records
Grade: A-

The ever present enigma of Ben Davis knocks out his second solo album from the international headquarters of indie rock - Chapel Hill, NC. You all may be more familiar with his work with such bands as Milemarker, Sleepytime Trio and Bats & Mice. The short of a really long story is that I used to see Davis in the gym at UNC like everyday for several years before realizing who this non-buffed Anglo with some tats and dark clothes was. For this latest project, Davis recruited almost everyone who he has worked with in the past including the Lovitt Records' family and members of such bands as Denali, Engine Down, Milemarker and Rah Bras to name a few. On the cd-rom part of the cd he has a list of all the musicians and producers who so diligently lent their time and brilliance to this record. The record was recorded off-and-on for several months last year in Chapel Hill. Davis held the mic in all the songs while others aided him at times. Also he plays numerous instruments including guitar, bass, piano and rhodes in the production. The record kicks off on "Departure Warning" with some light piano before Davis comes in on vocals with full instrumentation. Instantly you hear how sweet and refreshing Davis' vocals are - reflecting as a modern day Beatles' sound with an Elliott Smith edge. Musically, the track is thickly layered with guitars and piano. The reason I go into such detail is that "Departure Warning" sets up the rest of the tracks quite succinctly. The next track "Time A Bind" is led on vocals by Aimee Argote (of Des Ark) and contains a hypnotic and consistent guitar riff. This is followed by probably the hottest song on the record "Old and Played" - which Davis uses as the background music for the cd-rom. "Old and Played" is a slow piano driven number featuring Davis' heavenly vocals. As on the first track, Davis has several vocal tracks laid out - mostly minutely off - to add thickness. "Blue-Hearted Sleeve," "Double Daring" and "Green Forestry Ranger" fall out in a similar manner. Tracks that come with a more rock edge include "Underdawg," "In Either Words" and "A Forced Escape Canoe." The latter is a hot poppy number complete with hand clapping and good times. On songs such as "Underdawg," Davis utilizes light distortion on vocals to give a sort of DC indie feel. While Aided & Abetted is not one's first choice for a driving album when you are tired, it is perfect for coming off a black metal high of Dimmu Borgir. As such, this is nice record to have playing when trying to get work done. Seemingly squeezing everything out from himself and others, Davis truly outdoes himself on these twelve tracks. If you are down on Lovitt Records bands and - not entirely mutually exclusively - the bands Davis and his cohorts have been working in then you will love this.