Is It?

Is It?
Studio album by
Ben Howard
Released16 June 2023
Studio
Length42:13
LabelIsland
ProducerNathan Jenkins
Ben Howard chronology
Collections from the Whiteout
(2021) 		Is It?
(2023)
Singles from Is It?
  1. "Couldn't Make It Up"
    Released: 20 April 2023
  2. "Walking Backwards"
    Released: 19 May 2023
  3. "Life in the Time"
    Released: 7 June 2023

Is It? is the fifth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Ben Howard, released on 16 June 2023 via Island Records.[1][2]

Background and recording

The album was created before and after Howard suffered two transient ischaemic attacks in 2022. The strokes, which affected his memory and speech, influenced Howard's songwriting on the album. Created with DJ-producer Nathan Jenkins (aka Bullion), the album features a distinctly electronic leaning.[3] Glitches and loops populate the mix alongside "radiant" guitar ripples. The album combines treated vocals and atmospheric drum machines, to "create the story" of Howard's experience. The opening track playfully recalls this experience. The interlude "Total Eclipse" features manipulated language to render the effect.[4][3]

The album was recorded at Le Manoir de Léon in Léon, Landes, France; and at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, England.[5]

Release

The lead single from the album, "Couldn't Make It Up", was released on 20 April 2023, with the album announced the same day.[6] A second single "Walking Backwards" was released 19 May 2023.[7] The third single, "Life in the Time", was released on 7 June 2023.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[10]
i[11]
Sputnikmusic4.2/5[12]
Uncut8/10[4]
XS Noize[13]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 4 reviews.[9]

Stephen Dalton of Uncut commended the album's experimentation and deemed it "gloriously scrambled avant-pop", comparing Howard's vocals to those of Arthur Russell.[4]

Track listing

Is It? track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Couldn't Make It Up"
  • Ben Howard
  • Mickey Smith
3:55
2."Walking Backwards"
  • Howard
  • Nathan Jenkins
  • Smith
5:19
3."Days of Lantana"
  • Howard
  • Smith
5:15
4."Life in the Time"
  • Howard
  • Smith
3:30
5."Moonraker"
  • Howard
  • Jenkins
  • Smith
4:26
6."Richmond Avenue"
5:14
7."Interim of Sense"
  • Howard
  • Jenkins
  • Smith
3:56
8."Total Eclipse"
  • Howard
  • Smith
1:30
9."Spirit"
  • Howard
  • Jenkins
  • Smith
5:10
10."Little Plant"
  • Howard
  • Jenkins
  • Smith
3:58
Total length:42:13

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]

  • Ben Howard – vocals (all tracks), guitar (1–7, 9, 10), electric guitar (6), aerophones (9), electro-acoustic realization (9)
  • Nathan Jenkins – synthesizer (1–7, 9, 10), programming (1, 2), background vocals (2, 5, 10), drum programming (3–10), production (all tracks), mixing (all tracks)
  • Mickey Smith – guitar (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7), bass guitar (1, 2, 4–7, 9, 10), percussion (1, 7, 10), baritone (1), tape realization (1, 8, 10), background vocals (1, 6, 10), drums (5)
  • Richard Thomas – synthesizer (1–5, 7, 9, 10), background vocals (1, 6, 10), harmonium (3), piano (7, 8, 10)
  • James Arben – bass clarinet (1), saxophone (2), oboe (3)
  • Raven Bush – strings (2, 4–6, 9, 10)
  • Nat Wason – guitar (4, 6–8), lap steel guitar (5)
  • Michael McGoldrick – uilleann pipes (6), flute (9)
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering (all tracks)
  • Bráulio Amado – artwork[5]
  • Allan Wilson – photography[5]
  • Roddy Bow – photography[5]

Charts

Chart performance for Is It?
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 45
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 55
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 66
Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[19] 17

References

  1. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (20 April 2023). "Ben Howard Announces New Album 'Is It?', Shares New Song". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Is It? - CD". Ben Howard. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b Chick, Stevie (16 June 2023). "'It felt like a falling apart': Ben Howard on returning to music after two strokes". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Dalton, Stephen (August 2023). "Ben Howard – Is It?". Uncut. No. 315. p. 29.
  5. ^ a b c d e Is It? (liner notes). Ben Howard. Tôt ou Tard. 2023. BLV8107.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (20 April 2023). "Ben Howard announces new album with single 'Couldn't Make It Up'". NME. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  7. ^ Potter, Jordan (19 May 2023). "Ben Howard shares new single 'Walking Backwards'". Far Out. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ^ Potter, Jordan (7 June 2023). "Ben Howard shares vibrant new single 'Life In The Time'". Far Out. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Is It? by Ben Howard Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  10. ^ Smith, Maddy (16 June 2023). "Ben Howard – Is It?". Clash. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  11. ^ Solomon, Kate (16 June 2023). "Ben Howard – Is It? review: Ambient, pleasant and a little dull". i. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ^ Sowing (17 June 2023). "Review: Ben Howard - Is It?". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  13. ^ Williams, Sam (15 June 2023). "ALBUM REVIEW: Ben Howard – Is It?". XS Noize. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Credits / Is It? / Ben Howard". Tidal. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ben Howard – Is It?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ben Howard – Is It?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ben Howard – Is It?" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2023.