Ben Arsenault is known for his role as a singer/guitarist with Real Ponchos, Vancouver’s long-standing psychedelic country rockers, he has also been writing and performing across Canada under his own name since 2012. Ben’s latest release `Make Way For This Heartache` features an all-star cast of Canadian and American musicians, including Aiden Ayers, Josh Contant, Kendel Carson, Darryl Havers, Matt Kelly, Caleb Melo, Erik Nielsen, Martin Patenaude, Paul Pigat, Leon Power, Emlyn Scherk, Scott Smith, and John Sponarski.
We are introduced to this release with `Grand Forks` where there’s a gentle delicacy about the vocal delivery over pedal steel and organ keys with some wonderfully intricate guitar chords where a tale of somebody who seems almost incapable of love is shared. I felt that `Too Late` almost twinkled to life, a cautionary reflective musing that coasts along about somebody realising that no matter what they try it`s gonna fail.
Title track `Make Way For This Heartache` to me had a kind of traditional country vibe with a tapped drum rim keeping time and vocal harmonies that were sublime. We enjoy a ballad like, slow burn intensity with `You Can Tell That I’ve Been Lonesome` with vocals that almost mirror the hurt and pain that runs throughout the lyrics.
`Never Been The Boss` drifts along dreamily with a real contentment shining through the music shared while I felt that `Basement Blues` had a foot tapping appeal with some nigh on zydeco tinges.
`Flowers At Your Feet` has a deeply thoughtful texture and sent me into thoughts of my own where the ballad like `Does A Man Know` poses a fairly deep, philosophical inquiry.
`Carried Away` had a sort or new country sense while the closing track `I’m Changing Too` was a fairly uplifting composition about enriching life changes.
`Make Way For This Heartache` had it all with songs of heartache and loneliness but this was balanced with some more inspiring, uplifting, and positive compositions. The musicianship was second to none and Ben`s vocals were almost honey tinged at times.
This release is one that`s definitely worth making room for.
Rating 8.5/10
