Ben Howard new EP "Burgh Island" release coincides with sold-out UK tour

Ben Howard releases a brand new EP of material, the Burgh Island EP, through Island Records on 10 December 2012. Since the release of Ben’s platinum-selling, Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album, Every Kingdom back in October 2011, he has mindfully kept himself firmly routed to the motorways and freeways of each corner of the globe. A gruelling schedule of relentless touring across the UK, Europe, America and Australia. Devon is home to Ben, but it has become a rare occasion when he can settle back there for any longer than a couple of days before the touring process kicks back in. Having performed at many of the major summer festivals across the UK and Europe this year to huge audiences, Ben retreated to Devon and to a remote studio on the Start Point peninsula to lay down The Burgh Island EP, an entirely new record that finds him ditching his acoustic guitar and taking things electric. The four tracks that form Burgh Island EP are united in their dark, menacing, and brooding outlook. It’s a long, way from the blissful warmth of tracks such as Old Pine, Keep Your Head Up, and The Wolves that has defined Ben across British radio stations for the past 12 months. There’s a darkness and introspective delivery that makes for a vivid listen throughout the EP. Oats In The Water, first aired live to a rapturous response from both DJ and fans on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show in the early Summer, has quickly become a powerful live favourite, and is as beautiful as anything this young artist has recorded to date. The one constant from the Every Kingdom sessions is the intimate nature of Ben’s vocals and that exquisite guitar playing. Produced once more by drummer/multi-percussionist Chris Bond, Ben has shirked any outside influence to deliver four leftfield tracks that are shot directly from the heart. This EP coincides with Ben’s biggest, sold-out UK tour to date, which takes in 3 nights at London’s Brixton Academy.

***Focus Music recommends you check out "Esmerelda", a track taken from 'The Burgh Island E.P'.  Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYUKsRL-YBM&feature=colike

Ben Howard EP: ‘Burgh Island’ Release Date: 10 December 2012. Tracklisting: Esmerelda/Oats In The Water/To Be Alone/Burgh Island. www.benhowardmusic.co.uk