Album Review: Ben Cummings - Devil's Blood

Meshing together effortlessly, this offering conveys a longing, melancholic folksiness for its duration. Cummings' vocals have a unique, unassuming charm, possessing a country twang and homely intimacy through their slightly imperfect raspiness. Little musical accompaniment really allows his lyrics-driven melodies to shine, especially in the sadly pretty opener/title track. This EP gives an incredibly raw, untouched impression, off-beat acoustic guitar being the only backing to his gentle, intimate folk tunes. Though commendable for his DIY attitude and coherent vision, Cummings' solid, stripped-back compositions would see improvement with more formal production.