The American singer-guitarist signs a return in style with a new album “Bloodline maintenance”. A committed record with groove and soul notes inspired by the illustrious Marvin Gaye. It is on view at the Gignac and Colmar festivals.
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The musician with the famous hat returns after a few years spent under the radar. Through a new album, Ben Harper takes stock of the fractures and dangers that hang over our society. “I am terribly worried about the world we are going to leave to our children and grandchildren, to the point that I even lose sleep over it.” he confided to AFP.
These new committed pieces depict gloomy observations such as inequalities in the image of problem child or even the nuclear threat with Where did we go wrong. “I am as helpless as you but, for the causes that are close to our hearts, like fighting against those who want to rewrite history, sometimes we have to speak, shout, sing, because silence is not an option“, he told AFP.
This 17th studio album imbues new groove tones that are reminiscent of a certain Marvin Gaye. The prince of soul has been able to criticize injustices through his music as in his album What’s going on, while celebrating love and life. A double discourse that strongly inspired Ben Harper for the creation of Bloodline maintenanceover the twelve tracks the genius guitarist sounds like the legends of yesteryear.
The title Honey Honey evokes the influence of Ray Charles, More than love that of Sam Cooke. To give in the end, a clever mix of soul, jazz, rock and gospel. The artist is still playing at a few festivals in France until the end of July, in Gignac and Colmar. He could even definitely put his suitcases there. The singer told AFP that he wanted to leave the United States for France and find “a little inner peace”.