With so many bedroom music-makers out there (which is a good thing) what ends up getting released to the public sometimes rests solely on the shoulders of the person who made it, therefore the quality control is down to just one individual (potentially a bad thing). The outcome is that many such releases are a little on the patchy side. Birmingham-based artist Ben Lim made this debut EP himself in his tiny home studio, thankfully he appears to have a good ear. These half-a-dozen songs don't have peaks and troughs, they don't have any half-baked ideas left in there as padding; the 'Fragility' EP is consistent, and importantly it's consistently very good. With the benefit of a full studio, a professional producer and some more players you could maybe make the orchestration that bit richer, but really nothing else needs to be added.
The brass, percussion and strings work well being left subtle as they are. The production is bang on too and it's difficult to see what benefit anything more elaborate would bring. Instead of bursting forth and hitting you head-on, these tracks are softer; cosy and warming and improve with each listen. 'I Can Afford To Feel This Way' is a good example, the gentle hum giving way to a nicely understated brass finale. Elsewhere the baroque-sounding 'I Was Hoping For Hope' provides a classic sounding highlight, part Nick Drake, part The Miserable Rich, and whatever the effect used for the end of 'I Am Just As Tired As You Are' is, it works a treat. It's clear that time and consideration has gone into these tunes, that and a great attention to detail. 'Fragility' isn't going to change your life but it's pretty difficult to fault it. Note to other bedroom musicians: this is how it should be done.
Ben Lim's website
Stream or buy the EP
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