KICKING UP A QUIET STORM!
January 2004
BENNA - WHAT'S MEANT TO BE
Of the many albums I (have to) listen to in the course of writing my
music articles, there are thankfully a number of albums that I actually
enjoy on a more personal level than to just write about. One of the
albums that enjoyed a relatively lengthy stretch in my CD player these
last few months was New York singer/songwriter Benna Cohen’s What’s
Meant To Be, which was released sometime last year.
The reason you may not have heard much about it might be because (a) it
probably didn’t make it into the pop charts; (b) it’s not your average
mainstream album; (c) it was released on a small US indie label mainly
for local consumption or (d) all of the above. I have to admit that,
prior to getting hold of this album (thanks to Beangrowers manager
Luigi!), I had only heard of Benna when I had come across her site while
surfing the net. It turns out that despite her American nationality, her
roots are very Maltese, as she clearly explains on her website, which
further increased my interest in what she was up to.
Looking every bit the bohemian artist that her softly spun music
conjures, Benna’s career so far has attracted a sea of positive
criticism, brought on not just by her live performances, but also her
recorded work to date. Taking her cue from what critics described as the
tripping and infectious melodies of her acclaimed debut Greetings From
Port Authority and blending them with a more composed approach, Benna
has created something of a quiet storm on What’s Meant To Be, her latest
release.
Although brandishing a defined acoustic backbone throughout its 53
minutes, this album also boasts open flirtations with stimulating
arrangements, which are vital in bringing out the melodies further to
the fore, which can be heard as clearly on the flowing Simple Days as on
the soothing Bloody Red, both tracks among the best here. Enlisting the
help of Ira Elliott (of Nada Surf) and Paul Garisto (ex-Psychedelic
Furs) to lay down the drum tracks, Benna played most of the other
instruments, which helped preserve the personal feel that is so vital to
her music.
It is this same intimacy, present whether she is gently strumming her
way (Arrive, The One For You), slipping in a harder edge (All-Star,
Simple Days) or just weaving sonic dreamy textures (Medicine, Dreams I
Say), along with the existing chemistry between her lulling melodies,
candid lyrics and her unsophisticated overall approach that make this
record so significant and lasting. Listening to this album brings on a
blur of echoes of PJ Harvey, Kristin Hersh and Suzanne Vega’s individual
contemporary approach, held together with a lingering vintage
sensibility reminiscent of the 60s troubadours!
Recommended weblink: www.benna.com
