Funky and full of a springiness that isn’t as common in rock as it is in contemporary R&B and some crossover jazz nowadays, the beats that come pouring out of the stereo speakers in “Give It Up,” the new single from Bencoolen, are the most stunning element that this track has to offer, no question about it. “Give It Up” is very groove-oriented from top to bottom, and while its percussive thrust isn’t the only intriguing component of the construction here, it’s undisputedly at the center of the sonic storm, no matter what angle we’re looking at the song from. Bencoolen are an under the radar indie crew still trying to breakthrough to the mainstream, but they’re acting like seasoned pros on a vendetta-fueled mission in this most recent studio recording.
URL: https://www.bencoolenmusic.com/
As I mentioned, the drum play in this song is utterly intoxicating, but unfortunately, I don’t think that its ably backed by a sufficient bassline – the opposite, I’m afraid. It’s not that there’s anything aesthetically wrong with the arrangement of the bass, but more that this mix isn’t doing nearly enough to elevate its wallop in the big picture. Truth be told, it’s a bit of beast when we isolate it away from the other instrumental parts in the track, and had it been given just a little more of an EQ boost, I think that it would have helped to define the melodic core of this song a lot more than it ultimately does in this particular scenario.
I really dig all of the string parts in “Give It Up,” and alongside the lead vocal, they forge a lovely harmony amidst the deluge of drums that is as captivating a force as any other in this track is. Bencoolen have always paid great attention to detail in their work, and although there are some obvious cosmetic issues with this latest single, it’s really quite the fetching document from a purely artistic standpoint. They’re checking off all the right boxes sonically in “Give It Up,” and if they’re able to work out some of the artificial kinks when they play it live, this could definitely become one of their more popular stage numbers in the future. It might not be their most decadent release, but it’s got the potential to be a staple of their setlist just the same.
WATCH THE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzwLbKMH7b8&feature=youtu.be
While I didn’t know very much about Bencoolen’s music before sitting down with “Give It Up” just recently, I’m looking forward to hearing more from their brand soon. They’ve got a lot of raw elements that will need to be refined a bit more in future studio recordings, but as composers and performers, they’re really doing everything that they need to be at this point to keep their creative flow on the up and up. Time will tell us more about their aesthetical depth, but for now, I would have to say that Bencoolen is an act worth keeping an eye on, especially among fans who value funk-influenced indie rock with the occasional accent of R&B, jazz and experimental flavors unique to the 21st century.
Troy Johnston