Part of the Broken Tail Records DIY collective, Ben Marwood's releases are something of a rarity, with only three tracks properly released to the public over the past four years and the rest filtering through as low-key free downloads and hissing demos, before an ever-expanding following and support from Huw Stephens on Radio 1 and Jon Hillcock on Xfm suggested that perhaps it was time for something a little more substantial.
Recorded almost entirely at home, This Is Not What You Had Planned is a finely-balanced collection of folk songs from one of the UK's most promising angsty-folk songwriters, seven tracks addressing the common songwriting themes (love, loss, pushing someone out of a window) with more of a sneer and some swear words instead of the more conventional broken heart, a sound honed on his various travels where he's appeared alongside such indie dignitaries as Frank Turner and Pete and the Pirates to name but two.
Ben likes long walks by the lake and short walks to the bar.
"like a fast-moving Bright Eyes or an English version of Frightened Rabbit, all gruffly jangly with impassioned vocals" ? isthismusic?
"lovely finger-picked guitar and wistful melodies.. part Napoleon IIIrd and part anti-folk" ? tasty
"rich 'n' silky yet rough and ready" ? room thirteen
"desolate folk with a haunting starkness" ? subba-cultcha
"boy, is he an angry chap" ? er.. newbury weekly news