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Album Review: Ben Ottewell - A Man Apart

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"The gravel-voiced leading man has dished up more gems in the same vein for 'A Man Apart'."

More Ben Ottewell (Gomez) Ben Ottewell (Gomez)

It's the third solo outing for former Gomez singer Ben Ottewell, and rather than deviate from the folksy-Americana sounds he's tinkered with on previous albums, the gravel-voiced leading man has dished up more gems in the same vein for A Man Apart.

There is an upbeat, polished pop riddled through these ten tracks though, with opener Own It the most immediate example, followed by the Springsteen-esque Watcher. But the title track heads back to Ottewell's familiar sparse arrangements with a dry scatty beat, as does Back To The World and Bones. It's because of these that A Man Apart shines that bit brighter.