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- Summary: Gomez guitarist Ben ottewell releases his debut solo album produced by Will Golden.
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- Record Label: ATO
- Genre(s): Folk, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
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Score distribution:
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Positive: 3 out of 8
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Mixed: 5 out of 8
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Negative: 0 out of 8
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MojoApr 4, 2011We get strings, care-worn piano, and lots of subtle detail, the last deepening the listener's relationship with the excellent, lyrical mature songs over repeat plays. [Mar 2011, p.97]
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UncutMar 23, 2011More often than not, Ben appears to be channeling his hero JJ Cale, although the spirited title track doffs a beret in the direction of Richard Thompson. [Mar 2011, p.97]
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Mar 11, 2011With Gomez still a going concern, this solo effort--five years in the making--is very much a side project finally realised. But Ottewell should consider a follow-up, as there's much more to recommend here than on recent releases by other indie band singers turned so-so solo artists.
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Q MagazineMar 16, 2011Gomez's future seems cloudy, but with these nine tracks, Ottewell has a fighting chance. [Mar 2011, p.112]
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Mar 11, 2011It's rather far from being a poor album, but there's no real argument to be made for the existence of as a standalone work. For that, a bit more tangential newness should be expected, but Ben Ottewell is disinclined to provide it.
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Mar 11, 2011In essence Shapes And Shadows sounds unfinished, an album for the sake of notching "solo career" into Ottewell's bedpost, and completely inessential in the grand scheme of things.
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Mar 23, 2011Style-wise, Shapes isn't marking a great departure from Gomez's jams. Rather, it highlights certain aspects the group includes in their music. Plus, the album allows Ottewell space to breathe. And he has never had as much oxygen as he does on Shapes.