Ben Garcia Western Skyline
Multi-instrumentalist songwriter Ben Garcia has a new album just out, Western Skyline. This album is at heart a Western style album, with some songs that wax heavier and some that showcase a classic country style. Ben Garcia was born in the foothills of the mountains in Utah and continues forming his impressions in the mountains, but now from Colorado Springs, even if his songwriting at times dips to more barren landscapes underneath big wide open skies. The splendor of spaciousness reflecting beside it is woven throughout all the songs on the album.
Opening the album is “Sweet and True” with lively fiddle, pedal steel and a relaxed pace in a sweet love song: “at the end of the working day I want to see you waiting for me, feel your kisses sweet and true, I want to dance with you in the dark.” It’s a great primer to open a night, playlist, or album.
“Maybe the Rio” features fiddle swells in another love song that pays homage to canyon walls, river lines, and the grandeur of it all, the love included. In “Western Burn” there’s a loping pace, acoustic guitar and it’s timeless and sweet: “she’s been reading magazines and thinking those big skies might be a good thing.” There’s even a cattle dog to tag along in the ideal, and we can only hope the West doesn’t burn her.
“Give It All We Got Tonight” ramps up the energy with gutsy harmonica as it features vocals with Darby Sparkman and rich, spine tingling fiddle. It’s bountiful and layered as it declares: “I’m not the man of your big city dreams, but honey you know I’m the real thing.”
“Lessons (Santa Fe)” captures a darker feel of foreboding between the piano and the heavy, slow mournful fiddle. Darby Sparkman returns on harmony vocals in “American Spirit” and the feel of native life, flowers and landscapes is conjured and a feeling that you want to last forever: “oh honey stay a little longer in my arms… American feelings, oh honey stay here…I hear you whisper “Scarlet Begonias” was a lie.” On “Horses” again the spirit of the West, old style living, following the land as a guide, and traveling are heralded, this time vividly, and on horseback.
“Western Skyline” is the appropriate name for this album of Western style songs, Western landscapes, dreams of something more, moving through it all and true love all swirled with classic folk / country musical arrangements. More information can be found here on his website: https://bengarciamusic.com/
All lyrics and music are by Ben Garcia, except “Give It All We Got Tonight” was written by Tim James, Phil O’Donniel, and Mark Bright.
The album was produced by Ben Waligosky and recorded at Clubhouse Records. It was mastered by West Westside Music.
