Weekly Feature: May 7 | Written BY Harry Shufflebotham

Ben Howard returns with his first new music in two years. Enter sun-drenched ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ the lead single from his newly announced fifth album, Is It? out on June 16th 2023.

The sonic experimentation and expansive musical horizons from Collection From The Whiteout (2021) remains. Howard trades out the National’s Aaron Dessner for Nathan Jenkins aka Bullion as the lead producer for the new effort. Recorded over the course of ten days at the Le Manoir de Léon studios- the same recording studio used for the Noonday Dream (2018) sessions- the album will focus on self-reflection caused by Howard suffering two TIAs (transient ischemic attacks), known also as mini-strokes.

It’s a scary thought. ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’s lyrics recall Howard in his garden, unable to move and unable to do much more than mumble. ‘What’s with the face with the half-mast frown? If I give up, do I give up now?’ Howard asks of himself. It’s a strange clash with the pop- inflected and intensively summery melody and production. The whole song is wonderfully lush- especially a middle eight focusing on whistling wind.

An enticing atmosphere now surrounds the upcoming album. A twenty second teaser for the song ‘Walking Backwards’ is likely to worm its way into the listeners ears from a single play. With Howard returning throughout a myriad of festivals later this year and performing a special run of outdoor concerts, Is It? promises to be one of the most lavish and full-bodied summer albums of the year. Howard retains his unique talent for cryptic and yet hypnotic and engaging lyrics. Paired with an upbeat production and a synth guitar-focused sound, ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ has made June 16th a date to add to folktronica fan’s calendars.

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