Ben Westbeech-There Is More To Life Than This
Strictly Rhythm

Joy. Sadness. Intrigue. Dark. Fun. To put it simple…Ben Westbeech. Perhaps these complexities are what helped to create the brilliance of the Bristol born producer, DJ and singer’s latest album “There’s More To Life Than This”. While the blueprint that was laid down from his 2007 debut album “Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life” still exists, there is a bit of maturity in the new record with a consistency of 4×4 house rhythms. Yet the UK producer doesn’t strip down the music similar to many of the house songs of the present. Instead, he keeps the deep, spaced out sound that would have been more affiliated with a broken beat style, enhanced with a fullness of lush pianos, guitar playing and at times, horns. This create a bigger plateau often lacking in house music these days.

There are various moods within “There Is More To Life Than This” which ranges from the more upbeat, funk infused “Same Thing” to the anthem for going out on a Friday or Saturday, “Something For The Weekend”, as its deep house style sets the perfect tone for a night of fun. However, the mood gets a bit darker with tracks such as “Justice” as Ben Westbeech presents a grim social commentary of the sad struggles of life for many people and the need for changing the situation. On “Stronger” Westbeech confronts his own problems with addressing the overcoming of a past that was not necessarily the brightest. Sexiness exudes over the tune “Let Your Feelings Go” while the jazz/house fusion of “Butterflies” brings the spirit up as well as remind you of what Ben Westbeech has always sounded great over from the start.

“There Is More To Life Than This” is a reminder that there is still true soul and great craftsmanship that can be put into a house based album. It would even be fair to say that Ben Westbeech has definitely made the list of “Top Albums of the Year”. If there is truly more to life than what we currently are engulfed in, then this record makes the ride a little smoother.