Ben Harper and his crew of Innocent Criminals did it again yesterday with the release of their very much long awaited album: Lifeline. The album truly promotes an organic feel by committing to all tracks being recorded on a 16-track analog tape machine and without the use of computers or digital manipulation whatsoever. I guess if it was good enough for the little band from Liverpool than it is good enough for Ben. Furthermore, the album was recorded in Paris in an elegantly humble studio after a 9 month touring binge for the band.
Lifeline follows suit with any of Ben’s past musical endeavors by seamlessly fusing mixed genres such as blues, folk, blue grass, jazz, rock and roll, and funk. It never ceases to amaze me that a man who has released so many albums, written such a wealth of music, and tours for 300+ days out of the year can still deliver such sincere gut clinching emotion every single time he steps in front of a mic or straps on a guitar. In an age of disposable music and albums that contain a few good tracks and a bunch of fluffer, Lifeline truly furnishes a “whole” album that provides the listener with an eclectic range while still tying everything together to create a solid album from the first track to the end.
This album offers a deluxe set, which also comes with a detailed photo journal documenting the recording process as well as a DVD featuring a live performance.
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