Review: “Okay/Enjoy” EP Release By Benji Taylor
June 23, 2023
Singer/Songwriter Benji Taylor returns with a new EP that is the follow up to the 4 track T//M//A//W EP released earlier this year, it is entitled Okay Enjoy. So if you think by the title that it’s going to be a little more positive that the last, I’m sorry to dash your hopes, it follows a fairly similar emotive push as the last EP; dealing with loss, love, and addiction. If I did not know better I’d think that Benji comes from a Goth background or is a merchant of doom and gloom.
The man himself explains “I did have a whole bunch of songs ready for the next release but as I went into the studio I wrote – Giving up, Hello/Goodbye, and Design(er).So with a quick turnaround, I smashed the demos out a couple of days before the first studio day and decided they would be the next releases. It’s all a bit raw but I don’t think anyone would expect anything different from me on my previous showings”
The five track EP kicks off with a tune called “The Wall” that Benji explains, “Firstly, I didn’t want to leave the song title as “The Wall” for obvious reasons *cough* Pink Floyd *cough*. But I could not think of anything that would suit it and through the process it has stuck. This song is a very straight forward tune which is all about feeling under pressure from those around you to act or be a certain way, and you follow this as all you want to do is make them happy, even if that means not being so happy yourself”. The tune kicks off with some short percussion before Benji’s reverbed voice, along with acoustic guitar and some meandering atmospheric electric guitar. The tune feels intimate, personal and the lyrics almost feel like they are a cry for help.
“Design(er)” is a little more upbeat, with a creative guitar hook and some layered vocals. The lyrics are about feeling confused about your own mind and actions that stem from trying to understand yourself. Feeling like your flaws are just character traits and not something that can be improved. A sort of view from the inside out about personal traits and how they effect the way we feel about ourselves.
“Hello/Goodbye” switches between perspectives as Benji explains, “it starts with my perspective “Hello…”, then it’s from my ex’s “Goodbye…”. with each verse changing perspective. It’s centered around conversations that in the end amount to nothing and all the pain and emotion felt in turn becomes wasted energy. Yet there always feels like there is something to fight for ‘queue the hopeless romantic, I don’t know if I can love”. This is probably one of the most complex and experimental songs that this songwriter has created. It features some prodigious ideas and an understated musical accompaniment, along with the beautifully emotive effect driven guitar which makes for an impressive piece of work
The “Modern Country” opening guitar line does actually sound like something that a Goth band would create; the infectious rolling guitar riff and plodding bass-lines, the tune then morphs into a crossbreed with some 1990’s Indie styles going on too. The powerfully delivered lyrics tackle simply the many factors of unfairness in our modern society.
“Giving Up” is a sobering and honest assessment of a person who feels like there is no point trying to improve as a person as the uphill battle with addictions and mental health is just too high to climb. The pressure of this condition makes the sufferer feel their is no way forward. Like in some of the Joy Division songs, Ian Curtis provides some powerful lyrics to try to put across hows he feels; there is certainly a lot of pain coming across in these lyrics.
The dark musical arrangements show there is a great deal of beauty in darkness and the moody foreboding soundtrack creates the apprehensive vibe of the tune perfectly. The keys coupled with the impressive guitar piece, along with the perfect rhythmic patterns make for possibly one of the best tracks this artist has created to date.
There are a few bright lights of hope within this collection that will hopefully get the recognition that they deserve. This is just a small chapter in the story of this artist, I feel Benji is in it for the long game and is slowly making steps towards a certain sound that he has not found as of yet.
Track List
The Wall
Design(er)
Hello/Goodbye
Modern Country
Giving Up
Links
https://www.facebook.com/benjidoesmusic
https://linktr.ee/benjidoesmusic
