Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Borderline London, gig review: Enchanting, fragile folk-pop from a humble talent
Brave moments of off-mic singing help build a special, intimate atmosphere
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Your support makes all the difference.It takes a certain, special kind of singer to silence even the most hushed murmurings of a sold-out crowd. Benjamin Francis Leftwich, the quiet guy softly playing guitar in the corner of a party, not really caring whether anyone is listening or not, is one of them.
One note from the 26-year-old and a soothing aura captivates London’s intimate Borderline, a musical haven in the heart of Soho. Leftwich is neither experienced nor charismatic, relying solely on his otherworldly vocals to carry a downbeat, uniformly melancholic set. It could easily get depressing, quickly, but there is something so beautiful in his enchanting, fragile brand of folk-pop that it ends up strangely and inexplicably uplifting. The gently rocking, lullaby vibes of fan favourites “1904” and “Butterfly Culture” are soporific to the max, but welcomingly so. Never mind yoga and a hot bath, an hour with Leftwich is as good an antidote to the stresses of modern life as any.
His second album, After the Rain, is due out in August, the long overdue follow-up to 2011’s gorgeous Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm. Fans are treated to several new songs, all similarly mesmerising but lacking any real sense of development from five years ago. Leftwich, however, is clearly not out to rule the charts. He admits to being on ‘Calpol crack’ after a bout of illness, but thanks the audience for creating such a “healing” atmosphere. It’s an apt description, but really, Leftwich provides all the therapy here.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the show comes when the York musician bravely pulls away from the microphone to perform parts of “Box of Stones”, “Stole You Away” and “Atlas Hands” fully acoustic. It’s a masterclass in community, campfire style singing and there are audible gasps of delight from the room, before everyone starts joining in, too entranced to care about whether they ‘can sing’ or not. Some fans even go so far as to add in their own harmonies, building a reflective, quasi-hymnal mood.
If you’re in need of a gig to set your pulse racing, Leftwich is not the man for the job, but if it’s a warm, peaceful evening of pure and simple talent you’re after, look no further.
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