For over 30 years, this self-taught rocker from Mt Maunganui has been writing music. Now, for the first time since 2013, we finally get to hear his songs. Well, 12 of them at least.

Leap of Faith marks Ben Lloyd’s sophomore attempt at stepping out of the lounge and into the limelight. The style is pretty similar to Ben’s previous outing, Lighthouse. 90's alternative by way of easy listening. Equal parts Incubus and INXS. Creed and Crowded House. Pink Floyd and Pacifier.

But Ben’s decade-long absence has made for some noticeable improvements in the quality of the recording. Lighthouse was no bedroom effort to begin with, but on Leap of Faith everything is crystal clear, the voice and the instruments, and it all feels less squished into the space.

Having heard some of Ben’s original recordings - like the 2019 acoustic versions of the powerful album opener Amy, the swagger-filled Change, and the reggae infused tear-jerker of an album closer Waiting for You - the full band treatment gives the songs the polish they need to really elevate them. It’s the difference between one dude with a guitar in the corner of a bar, and a top ten radio single. Both have appeal, but one will inevitably get more listeners.

But then studio treatment is just polish. Real drums in place of a drum machine. Extra licks of keys and guitar, and string sections over the solid chord progressions. Underneath it all is a rough diamond; strong and full of potential. The spine that keeps the flesh machine standing. Ben is doing all the heavy lifting with his solid vocals and Beatles level song writing ability. All the hooks were already there. The recording is just making the tracks sound like they deserve.

And they deserve to be heard. Leap of Faith has a song for every season, in all the colours of human emotion. There’s something for those that love the danceable, and some for the introspective. From Boomers to Millennials. And beneath it all, the messages and themes seem to be mostly positive and uplifting. That’s a bit of a novelty in these final days of human habitation. There’s even a glimmer of hope in the most melancholic of the tracks, Goodbye.

When you treat music as a hobby, rather than an ill-advised career choice, you’re awarded the freedom to do what you want. That can sometimes lead to music that is somewhat… what’s the politically correct term for unlistenable?... Challenging. Thankfully, what Ben wants to play aligns with what other people actually want to listen to.

Will it top any charts? Probably not. Leap of Faith will appeal more to the generation that download and torrent, maybe even buy physical releases occasionally, whereas the mainstream music media is mainly trying to get the youth vote with streams and subscriptions. But I don’t think stardom is Ben’s intention anyway. It sounds more like he’s doing it for a love of music, and we love the music he’s doing.

You can find Ben Lloyd’s Leap of Faith on most streaming platforms, or buried under music that doesn’t deserve your attention on Spotify.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  Michelle Rounds
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  The Boondocks
• 8
  Late to Chelsea
• 9
  Springloader
• 10
  Baconfoot

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  Mel Parsons @ TSB Arena, Wellington - 09/11/2024
• 
  Jan Hellriegel @ Nivara Lounge, Hamilton - 08/11/2024
• 
  Matthew Bannister @ Nivara Lounge, Hamilton - 8/11/2024

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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