There would be some truth in regarding Daniel Benyamin as a songwriter for our times as his focus on his art combined with his, near philosophical, search for deeper meaning makes for a welcome change from the artificial and the contrived fast food that our ears are force fed. His album “Life After Music” duly takes his writing from the inside to the outside over the course of twenty one songs.
Those twenty one songs are divided into four sections - Life, Loneliness, Space and Silence – with the thematic progression between each part taking the listener a step or two further on this musical journey from here to somewhere where the sun might occasionally shine. A thematic consistency joins the four sections together and it is never in doubt that Daniel Benyamin is serious about all that he does and, even though smiles are rarely found in this album, good old fashioned values like melody and literacy are clearly evidenced throughout with songs like “Should I Care and “I Can’t Get It Out Of My Mind” being fine examples of what would be, in a different context, elegant popular songs.
This album is one that will have resonance for those who value melancholy as much as eloquent musicianship and there is little doubt that Daniel Benyamin has much to say with his music. After all, who would want a life without music?