Sophomore studio album from Virginia / Florida songsmith Benjamin Booker. Inspired by a solo retreat to Mexico City where Booker experienced firsthand a phenomena described by James Baldwin: “Once you find yourself in another civilization, you are forced to examine your own” (reviewer’s note: a notion further explored in the writings of Malcolm X and Ta-Nehisi Coates). The NY Times called the title track “a piano-pounding hymn for Black Lives Matter”. Drawing on his passion for soul, blues and R&B but filtered through an adolescence spent hanging around DIY punk shows, Booker’s effortlessly soulful crooning is on full display on Witness, with slick production flexing a garage rock edge said to be inspired by T. Rex and The Gun Club. Blue vinyl pressing comes with fold-out poster and code for free digital download.

• includes giant fold-out poster
• blue vinyl pressing
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: ATO Records 2017

reviewed by mayor of hounslow 06/2017