'Dlugokecki' Reviews
BILLY BUTLER, BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE
"An exceptional voice......truly remarkable"SALLY TAYLOR, BBC SOLENT/SOUTHERN COUNTIES
"Absolutely brilliant......... Upon Landing deserves to be in the charts!" BBC WEBSITE "Dlugokecki - Can't say it? Never Mind, Just listen....Ben has one of those "strong but breathy" voices and he's faultless in that style"THE MAG
"The first thing you`ll notice about Ben Dlugokecki is the incredible vocal which is aching with emotion at times and reaching for epic heights at others.."GLASSWERK
"What do you get if you force feed Damien Rice a bag of up tempo happy pills and put the results through the famous American country voice filter? This"SOUTHAMPTON DAILY ECHO
"Beautifully crafted songs, Superb voice...."HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE
"Gentle Sound, clever lyrics and meticulous orchestration"PETER GORDON, 96.4 THE EAGLE FM
"Fantastic.... Hope Song by Dlugokecki is one of those all time great songs which gets better everytime you hear it"THE MUSICIANS CHANNEL (SKY)
"The next Big thing... and if you hear one of his songs you'll know why...but we're not the only one's to have been knocked out..."LOGO MAGAZINE
"Few have heard of him so far...give it a year and Dlugokecki will be the difficult name on everyone's lips"PHIL JACKSON, BBC SOLENT/SOUTHERN COUNTIES
"Spectacular....this needs to be heard! Brilliant!"MARTIN PERRY, AND MAGAZINE
"Astounding...what more can I say? So personal it cuts like a knife" "He's going to be huge!"HAMPSHIRE 107.8FM
"Excellent!... This guys going to go far"SENNHEISER UK
"Better than great...amazing!"POWER FM 103.2FM
"His songs are quite simply beautiful"HAVIT MAGAZINE
"The sign of a true songwriter. Fresh, clever, rocky...an epic collection"SKYWAVE RADIO
"Fresh, brilliant and Exciting"FUZZCLOG.COM
"A masterpiece - from good foot tapping tunes to a more mellow style"MERGE MAGAZINE
"Clog Up The System emits the most sophisticated cool...Ben could end up on coffee tables everywhere" -----------------------------GLASSWERK
A massive thank you to John Basely at Glasswerk.co.uk for this beautiful review. And thanks to the website (which is brilliant and slightly arousing) for letting me print it.
What do you get if you force feed Damien Rice a bag of up tempo happy pills and put the results through the famous American country voice filter? This. Young singer / songwriter Ben Dlugokecki shows that he can write a fair and nice ditty with this 3 song EP. All dandylions, blue bells and green grass; these artifacts of outside lazy hazy enjoyment are lifted straight from middle piece "Bluebells & Bluebirds", you get the picture, all rather quaint.
Firmly set in the realms of Radio 2, opener "Set in Stone" sees Dlugokecki at his most raucous, as hardcore as Turin Brakes after hitting the whiskey. Enjoyably clean and featuring some neat rising horns adding some late Britpop pomp, the production and craft is commendable.
Continuing the great outdoors theme, last track "Autumn" sees one man and his guitar stroll through a live acoustic version as lightweight as a see-through lace negligee small enough for Peter Pan fairy Tinkerbell. Rousing this is not, ok and pleasant it certainly is.
For sure Dlugokecki knows how to capture the afore-mentioned mood & theme, you could do a lot worse for a laid back sunday listener.
Glasswerk
John Baseley
THE MAG
A big thank you to Steve at 'the Mag' for this generous review of the album 'Before The Storm'. Thanks.
You don't get to support Snow Patrol without good reason, and there are plenty of good reasons why Ben Dlugokecki got the job (although it's not a decision completely without risk for the headliners themselves!)
At times delicately constructed and at others cascading with instrumentation, "Before The Storm" is a collection of Dlugokecki's studio recordings, dating from 2003 to 2005.
The tracks are well spread between the three prevailing Dlugokecki-styles.
The first is a hazy meadow-field of indie such as the opener, "Upon Landing", "Belted Un Safely" with it's sixpence-style guitars or the dusty "Bluebells and Bluebirds". Each of these songs has a fantastic and unique way of finding it's way to the chorus and there are some wonderful builds and falls to keep things way more interesting than your typical 'band with an acoustic guitar'.
"Clog Up The System" is the brand-leader of the atmospheric style of songs that take on epic and cinematic proportions. It's interesting rhythms with lots of individual parts for the instruments and melodies weaving in between the music.
Swaying acoustic songs also play a part in this record, not just leading the way between these other styles, but also capturing your heart with their emotion and with their beautiful simplicity.
Now let's think about the word "captivating" for a second. I mean, really, think about it. The most appropriate definition I can find simply says: "To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence".
Now we've thought about what the word means, I can be sure that you'll understand what I mean when I say that this record is truly captivating right the way through. It's the exceptional lyrics, the brilliant musicianship, the wonderful voice and most importantly, a whole series of songs that are, well, captivating.
A big thank you to Saur at 'the Mag' for this generous review of the single. Thanks.
The first thing you`ll notice about Ben Dlugokecki is the incredible vocal which is aching with emotion at times and reaching for epic heights at others.
"Set in Stone" is the first of two a-side recordings and sets a precedent of quality musicianship alongside the outstanding vocal. The style is a relaxed mix of indie and country with no particular badges to wear in respect of either; preferring to produce what feels natural over the need to fit within a safe boundary.
The upbeat chorus and cheerful rhythm are lifted further still by the musical ending that combines warm toned brass instruments in the style of a brit-pop song.
"Bluebells and Bluebirds" has the rolling acoustic sound of early Beautiful South records with careful restraint in the quiet moments and a build-up to the chorus that infects with anticipation.
Lone b-side, "Autumn", is an unaccompanied acoustic track that rounds off the record with chilled brilliance and understated grace -capturing in music the mood of the season in the title.
Whether accompanied by a full band, cut down band with organ and two guitars or completely lonesome, Dlugokecki can omit an entrancing musical aura likely to ensnare the emotions of all who listen.
A superbly genuine talent in terms of both song writing and performance.
www.the-mag.me.uk
----------------------------- M Channel Website Dlugokecki is made the MC's Featured Artist of the Month Fans of our M:Music programmes will certainly recognise the name, if not be able to pronounce it... Ben Dlugokecki (pronounced der-loo-go-ken-ski) has rapidly risen to prominence... And if you hear him sing one of his songs you'll know why.... Ben surprised us at MC towers with a performance of great quality and beauty, but we're not the only one's who have been knocked out... His band completed the Sennheiser Unsigned 2004 event and was widely praised for the song craft and an energized performance. Ben told us "...It was the fifth gig with my band: already we had played an ASCAP showcase at the London Barfly but this was the biggest thing I'd done. We had been together as a five piece for two weeks before that gig. Most bands had been together for two years!...." The lack of 'match fitness' hasn't inhibited Dlugokecki much, in fact the future looks surprisingly bright... There have been reports of Channel 4 using one of Ben's tracks on the 'Ny/Lon' drama series as incidental music, plus a few of the major labels have been making positive noises about Ben's obvious vocal talent and melodic compositional skills.... When asked about his major influences, the eccentric fella name-checked a few movie starlets: but when pushed he revealed that Paul Simon and MC favorites 'Elbow' are amongst his influences and heroes. Courtesy of the M:Channel Website. www.musicianschannel.tv ----------------------------- BBC Website Review of the Dlugokecki Studio Sampler CD from the BBC Southampton Website. Special thanks to Simon Marks. Ben is a singer-songwriter who grew up on Paul Simon and The Beatles. He plays live with a band, but I get the impression it's his band. By the age of 22 Ben had recorded four albums at home. Then he entered a local songwriting competition which led to a meeting with music production company Off the Wharf productions, which is part-owned by Mark Hill (Artful Dodger). They gave Ben three days in a studio, during which he produced enough to convince them to send him to Ibiza to record some more. I only had to listen to the first minute of Ben's sampler CD to conclude that he is a very talented guy. Ben has one of those "strong but breathy" voices and he's faultless in that style. The opener, Hope Song is good but slow, and it has some unnecessary electronic percussion in the background which I found distracting. Belted In Safely is much more lively, with a dance beat and some proper bass. This is a happy track - the sort of thing you want to hear on your car stereo in summer. It has a false ending, but they'd probably cut that out. My personal favourite is Upon landing. It's much heavier than the others and the chorus has the indefinable glow of a pop song, in a strangely timeless sort of way. A single for sure. Whoever mixed Upon Landing has treated the sound with a sweeping eq. It works beautifully. I can't help wondering what the track sounded like before it was added - in the same way that I'd like to hear "Itchycoo Park" by The Small Faces without the flanger - I should probably try to get out more. Reveiw by Simon Marks ----------------------------- Logo Magazine Review of the Dlugokecki Studio Sampler CD from www.logo-magazine.com (The Uk's NO1 Free Music Magazine) "22 year-old Ben Dlugokecki spent his formative years recording and producing four albums by himself at home, obviously a good way to circumvent the learning curve that many artists have to undergo in public. Cutting a long story short, his entry to Southampton-based Power FM?s Songwriter Of The South competition brought him to the attention of producer Neil Kerr, who promptly signed him to Off The Wharf Productions (co-owned by Craig David/Artful Dodger mastermind Mark Hill). It was plainly a good move for all concerned; Dlugokecki is now splitting his time between recording studios in Southampton and Ibiza, and judging by the studio sampler we have in our hands Off The Wharf have another hit on their books. Why? Simply because Dlugokecki gets up there and sings, an approach he shares with Paul Simon and James Taylor (both acknowledged influences) but making a sound closer in spirit to any and all of Pete Yorn, Damien Rice and Magnet's Even Johansson. Few will have heard of him so far, but give it a year and it?s likely that his will be the difficult name on everybody?s lips." ----------------------------- Lonestar? Dlugokecki – Live @the Green Cellar, 21st October It’s about 8 o’clock and the upper floor of the Green Cellar is starting to fill up. A friendly atmosphere is building as familiar faces see each other and new friends are introduced. Everyone is here for the same reason, and that is to hear SI’s very own Singer/songwriter Ben Dlugokecki. He does what he does best, remind us that life is still as good and as bittersweet as it always has been. But first, he introduces us two of his best friends and idols, two other singer/songwriters with acoustic guitars – both with tales to tell. First up Ben Furness. He sits and politely smiles before launching into his solo set. His voice soars and cuts through the increasingly loud chatter from the bar as people still arrive. He doesn’t seem to care as he caresses cover versions such as Tom Mcraes Bloodless with such conviction you could almost imagine Furness had wrote it himself. Effortless power is controlled and at places needs to be set free, but perhaps this isn’t the venue to take the roof off. It is raining outside after all. Next up is Jon Gardener, joined onstage by a bongo player who “have only rehearsed together for two days”. A groove driven instrumental somewhat looses the attention of the audience and Jon struggles with a sore throat, however, a good voice shines through and some stunning guitar playing. However, the audience are harsh to dismiss Jon so early on and fail to hear his own personal attack on President Bush and an impressive cover of Gomez’s Get myself arrested. Another rapturous applause later and I notice the venue is suddenly packed. Guitar in hand, as well as the audience, Ben Dlugokecki takes to the stage. He says hello and begins an informal banter that continues through the evening. Some musicians take years to affirm themselves like this, whereas Ben has a loving charm that warms the cockles of this friendly crowd. After mocking the unpronounceable nature of his surname (phonetically – Der loo go ken ski) he storms in with his first three numbers, three of his own songs, and wins the first massive cheers of the night. His lyrics strike a chord with everyone, so much so he might sue The Soundtrack of Our Lives for stealing his rightful name. Although some detractors may say he bears more than a passing resemblance to David Gray in his lyrical style and voice, many more would praise him for opening up the genre and barking at the heels of his contemporary. In fact, the Gray songs he plays, including a towering version of Babylon, have an original quality of their own and invited me to go home and re-listen to White Ladder. The only fault I found in this performance tonight was that he actually made this journalist like Travis. Yes, that’s right, the warbling ‘Fran’ and his ruddy cohorts will no longer be shot on sight due to covers of Driftwood and Why does it always rain on me?. After the crowd-pleasing Dlugo creation which is ‘Should be on Cloud 9’ came the highlight of the evening, Ben’s Dad coming onstage for the cheesy covers of Mole Fanciers weekly superstar (Enrique Iglesias) Hero, and Cat Stevens/Ronan ‘smash’ Father and Son. Genius obviously runs in the family as when Dlugokecki senior forgets his words he pulls out a flyer for tonight’s show and reads them from the back. Comedy Gold. The banter with his Dad in front of so many people is not over-confidence, but simply a love for his music that we love him for in return. Then at the end, an outstanding new song, She Fell from the Sky, a heart-felt love song from his forthcoming album leaves the audience demanding more. Throughout the show, for this is no ordinary ‘gig’, the audience sit, stand, crouch and at points lean, on anything they can. They don’t seem too preoccupied with getting a comfy seat but merely catching a glimpse of tonight’s star who is here not only singing for himself, but for everyone here, and everyone who isn’t. He may already be described as a ‘Lonestar’ on his album sleeve, but not tonight. We’re with him all the way and you can only see his growing army. Be careful, Ben’s out to win you over. For a free promo CD of Dlugokeckis forthcoming album, ‘Come find me’, email Dlugokecki03@hotmail.com Look out for live dates in January. Review by Paul Spurr. ----------------------------- 'Beautiful will See You Soon' Review Taken from http://www.fuzzclog.com/archive/music/dlugokecki.htm Whenever I've been handed CD's from supposed up and coming artists before, they have never usually impressed me, they are often of a poor quality (which I know can't always be helped) and the music featured isn't all that original. But "Beautiful will see you soon" is different, this talented piece of work is the child of Ben Dlugokecki. The 14-track album is just one example of the musical talent that this 20-year-old Advertising student is capable of. The album is an original, yet enjoyable to listen to, compilation. Each track is a very different sound from the other, from a more mellow style of song, to the good old foot tapping and uplifting tunes. On a comparative note, you can certainly notice an influence of the legendary Beatles style of music. Dlugokecki's voice is excellent and passionate to his lyrics, in my opinion his voice has a very "David Gray" style about it. All the tracks have an old fashioned raw acoustic feel about them, something that is missing from a lot of alternative music available right now. As well as good usage of the guitar, Ben also uses a mixture of other instruments in his tracks, including sound bites at the beginning of some numbers, as well as the piano and a harmonica, to name but a few. It's not just the overall sound which makes this album stick out from all the other up and coming student musicians out there. The lyrics of each track are very well written and well used. Most relating to childhood memories which I feel most of us can also relate to and appreciate. This masterpiece has certainly had a lot of time and effort put into it, and it definitely shows. It's a well-recorded, neat CD, which also includes a QuickTime video of what I class as my favourite track "Should be on cloud 9"- something that you usually don't see on albums of this calibre. Ben, who originates from Guilford, is in his 2nd year of a degree at Southampton Institute and is part of First Degree Records. He wants people to hear his material and anyone who appreciates good quality music should try and obtain a copy of this CD or his other album, titled "His Consent Nonsense". You can do this by e-mailing the man himself at dlugokecki03@hotmail.com, then once you do, sit back, chill out and look forward to hearing more from this talented musician. Review by Andy Walker
