Bennie Hayfield - A World I'm Living For 
Release Date: Out Now
Regular LWM readers will know of the love I have for British troubadour Bennie Hayfield so getting his debut solo album, 'A World I'm Living For', to review is a real treat. We open with recent single 'A Dozen Empty Graves' which is still an arresting song that blends English folk story telling with Led Zep style ambition which nothing but acoustic and voice for weapons. 'Long Way From Home' is a more Dylan-esque number with rapid vocals, harmonica and an urgent acoustic strum but 'The Price' has a more sea shanty root to it mixed with blues sadness and a fear of the devil.
The Americana element to 'Sunset' is so authentic you could hear the Eagles strumming this one out on the stoop at the back of their motel while on tour and, for the first time in a long time, it actually wants to make me visit the USA. On 'Hope' Hayfield continues his musical trip across the States with the kind of song that evokes images of rolling stock and vagrants moving on to a new place to call home - this is the song where our hero's voice starts to stretch out a bit more which is wonderful to hear.
With 'Separate Ways' we get a real sense of heartbreak and endings with a Paul Simon vibe before 'Part Of The Game' is a rattling number that is almost begging for a backing band to join but still has a Jake Budd meets Paul Armer sound that is right up my alley way. The gentle, almost nostalgic flow of 'Ribbons' makes me want to watch the Wonder Years such is its warmth while 'Talkin' East Street' is a skiffle meets bluegrass song with wailing harmonica and a painted picture that is as American as apple pie and Johnny Cash.
The pure, simple and honest love in 'That's Enough' is stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful whereas 'Kings And Queens' is more of a protest song about the injustice that keeps our world turning. The sundowner beach fire soul of 'Beyond The Sky' is a balm for any troubled soul and leads into 'I Must Travel On', a song that speaks of maturity far beyond Hayfield's young years. Penultimate track 'Devil's Game' must surely have been written in the darkest hours of the night, such is its soul-searching and confessional tone but the album closes on a more story telling tone with 'Cowskin McGee' - a song about loving someone so much you set them free. Sure, this is a long album (15 tracks is a lot for a debut) and the production is simple but any A&R department worth their salt will surely hear the song writing talent, the range and the heart in these songs. But I get the impression Hayfield doesn't care about any of that - I imagine him sitting outside his van home with a small three legged dog writing more stories to sing to anyone who will lend him an ear and the price of a pint.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/benhayfield/