Ben's Brother & Anastacia Team Up For Stalemate
American Pop Superstar Collaborates With Jamie Hartman On New Single
Sep 27, 2009
There is a general census within today's music industry that the charts are just clogged with a monotonous stream of music that is killing off the special talents in music. Jamie Hartman, however, is songwriter that could well change this.
In 2007 Hartman founded a band called Ben's Brother. In the same year the band, or more specifically Hartman and four hired stage hands, released their debut album “Beta Male Fairytales” which was full of deeply emotionally songs which the listener could relate to in real life. Fast forward to May 2009 and the band returned with an amalgamation of soulful pop tunes and highly emotionally sung ballads on their second album “Battling Giants”.
Though the band have remained very much in the background of the UK music scene, the band's sixth single Stalemate, and the third from "Battling Giants", could propel the ban forward especially with the addition US superstar Anastacia.
What Is The Song Like?
Stalemate is the third track from from the album, "Battling Giants". It demonstrates Hartman's writing skills to a full extent. The song tells the story of a relationship reaching a point of impasse. The lyrics, such as “But it feels wrong, yeah, when I’m strung along, yeah Strung along by you”, show us that Hartman is relating to something that has happened to him personally.This only adds even more depth and meaning to the song.
In fact it has lead many experts to say that Stalemate is the best track Hartman has ever written and performed.
Does Anastacia Improve The Quality?
There is no doubt that the original was perhaps the highlight of the entire second album. However this was down more to Hartman lyrics. Though the soulful Joss Stone did a fantastic job collaborating with Hartman on the album version, her evocative voice was at times to over powering. As a result at times the song struggles to work as a concept.
With the addition of the more edgy voice of Anastacia, however, the song gains a far better balance. Her vocal range takes to the melody far better and alongside Hartman, the pair create a ballad that, emotionally, is far more believable.
What The Song Could Do For Ben's Brother?
But it is not just Anastacia's voice that will make this single a sure-fire hit. In comparison to Stone, Anastacia is far bigger name on not just the UK music scene but also the world music scene. Though the song should be able to stand out on it's own as a great record, with name such as Anastacia's behind it; the song will gain even more credibility.
The effects of which are already being seen as the song is gaining much more airtime on radio stations including BBC Radio 2.
This will only enhance Ben's Brother and more specifically the talents of the Ivor Novello nominated Jamie Hartman as he will now be exposed to a much wider audience and will, without much doubt, gain many more fans.
Overall Rating: This song has the ability to be a true classic with strong lyrics, a gentle melody and two great voices in Hartman and Anastacia. A must listen. 4.5/5
Stalemate is due to be released on October 26th 2009 through Island Records
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