Benjamin Steel - Stormchaser

Stream Stormchaser here

Benjamin Steel has great popstar hair and a natty line in suits. These are some of the superficial things that got me to notice the invigorating young fella but it's his dynamic effusive music that got me to stay. Currently working on his debut album (entitled The Record, due in 2015), he's giving folks a sneaky peek of what to expect via his brand new single Stormchaser - and it's a doozy of a track to kick things off. Wrapped up in 3 minutes and 20 seconds of sparkling pop magic, it's actually a damning denouement of the type of person you fall head over heels for only to realise that you've been swept up in a world of trickery, lies and deceit. Set to a crescendoing score and propulsive beat that is enriched by evocative piano riffs and a pulsing percussion, the instrumental of the song actually enhances the lyrics and the narrative flow by providing a tangible energy to the passion of Benjamin's empowered vocal style. And what a vocal it is - at times it's seemingly powered by sheer fury & hurt, at others there's more of an element of wistful regret and melancholy. It's never less than compelling and it brings the song to life in electrifying fashion. When that chorus refrain of "stormbreaker/dream waster/love faker" kicks in, it's a convivial moment that most will relate to making it an anthem for the broken hearted that will actually help you to dance away the pain - particularly when a second chorus straight after provides a gloriously liberating opportunity to do just that. All things considered, it's a song that makes an instant impact with multiple refrains, an addictive backing track and the magnetic delivery from Mr Steel himself. It helps that great lyrics abound ("take a selfie from the car/you crave attention near and far") and that very real emotions feel in play here, an organic exploration of one man's truth in searingly personal and intimate detail. Accompanied by an equally vivid video, it certainly puts Benjamin on the map and has me excited to see what The Record will bring next year... if it's anything like the quality of Stormchaser we're all in for a proper musical treat.