Ben Caplan has long been one of the east coast’s most enthralling and engaging performers, regardless of whether he is backed by a full band, orchestra, roaring thunderstorm, or performing all by his lonesome. His newest album, “Recollection (reimagined),” is proof of that, with Caplan revisiting his past triumphs with a minimalist solo approach.
“For years, I’ve had friends and fans express their desire to have recordings of my songs being performed solo,” says Caplan. “This great pause was the time to finally take on that project. I called up winner-of-many-awards producer Daniel Ledwell, and proposed that we co-produce a stripped back solo album at his home studio.” And thus, this whole pandemic nonsense has finally given us something positive.
And you won’t find Caplan shying away from this album’s impotence or inspiration. “This is a COVID-19 album,” says Caplan. “I wanted to use this global shutdown as an opportunity to work on a new recording project. But, with the pandemic on, I had no desire to produce an album of new songs with full arrangements and a whole band. New songs are sacred to me. They are precious and rare, and I didn’t want to push them into the world with all of these industry challenges to work around. So, instead of looking forward, I looked backward.”
And in a time where looking forward can—and is even likely to—spark anxiety and fear; this stroll through fan’s familiar favourites provides both comfort and a far more intimate twist on the Caplan catalog (especially on more bombastic or uptempo tunes like “Birds with Broken Wings” or “Beautiful”). Caplan evokes images of a lone pianist with minimal accompaniment as he somehow simultaneously serves as a stirring background to a plethora of possible interactions.
The emotional depth of the ten songs featured on Recollection (Reimagined) remains constant as the meaning stands firm yet they hit differently. “Drift Apart” will always be about heartbreak and regret but its loneliness is amplified and echoes ever so sadly with the more solo stylings before being joined by welcome backings from Jenn Grant to throw a beautiful wrench into the mystique.
Caplan goes more barebones on “Recollections (reimagined)” and in doing so reminds us of his own musical, lyrical, and vocal prowess. The album will sit as a perfect rekindling to fans of why they flock to his live shows regardless of his backing.
Tour Dates:
10.20.21 – Groningen, Netherlands @ Oosterport
10.21.21 – Deventer, Netherlands @ Burgerweeshuis
10.22.21 – Bocholt, Germany @ Kitchen Party
10.23.21 – Breda, Netherlands @ Mezz
10.24.21 – Zwolle, Netherlands @ Eureka
10.26.21 – Erpe-Mere, Belgium @ Emotia
10.27.21 – St-Niklaas, Belgium @ DeCasino
10.29.21 – Ramsgate, UK @ Ramsgate Music Hall
10.30.21 – Brighton, UK @ The Brunswick
11.01.21 – Cambridge, UK @ Cambridge Junction
11.02.21 – Nottingham, UK @ The Bodega Social
11.03.21 – Manchester, UK @ Night & Day Cafe
11.04.21 – Birmingham, UK @ Kitchen Garden Cafe
11.05.21 – Bethesda, UK @ Neuadd Ogwen
11.06.21 – Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana
11.07.21 – London, UK @ Oslo
11.09.21 – Sheffield, UK @ Crookes Social Club
11.10.21 – Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ The Cluny
11.11.21 – Pocklington, UK @ Pocklington Arts Centre
11.12.21 – Leeds, UK @ Hyde Park Book Club
11.13.21 – Glasgow, UK @ The Glad Cafe
11.15.21 – Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown
11.16.21 – Middelburg, Netherlands @ De Spot
11.17.21 – Tilburg, Netherlands @ Paradox
11.18.21 – Zaandam, Netherlands @ Flux
11.19.21 – Munster, Germany @ Gleis 22
11.20.21 – Cologne, Germany @ Luxor
11.21.21 – Munich, Germany @ Ampere
11.22.21 – Leipzig, Germany @ Werk 2, Halle D
11.24.21 – Hamburg, Germany @ Knust
11.25.21 – Nurnberg, Germany @ Club Stereo
11.27.21 – Berlin, Germany @ Frannz-Club
11.29.21 – Prague, Czech @ Futurum Music Bar
11.30.21 – Kosice, Slovakia @ Tabacka Kulturfabrik
12.01.21 – Budapest, Hungary @ Durer Kert
12.02.21 – Virovitica, Croatia @ Horn Pub
12.03.21 – Zagreb, Croatia @ KSET
12.04.21 – Belgrade. Serbia @ Jazz Kantina Lisabon
12.06.21 – Novi Sad, Serbia @ Dom Kulture
12.07.21 – Sofia. Bulgaria @ Mixtape 5
12.08.21 – Istanbul, Turkey @ Moda Kayikhane
12.09.21 – Thessaloniki, Greece @ Duende Jazz Bar
04.01.22 – Fredericton, NB @ The Playhouse
04.02.22 – Saint John, NB @ Imperial Theatre
04.03.22 – Moncton, NB @ Capitol Theatre
04.07.22 – Kingston, ON @ The Mansion
04.08.22 – Toronto, ON @ Super Secret Venue TBA soon
04.09.22 – London, ON @ Aeolian
04.10.22 – Hamilton, ON @ Bridgeworks
04.14.22 – Lavaltrie, QC @ Café Culturel de la Chasse Galerie
04.15.22 – Sainte-Therese, QC @ Cabaret BMO
04.16.22 – Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Petit Champlain
04.21.22 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
04.22.22 – Saskatoon, SK @ Cosmo
04.23.22 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth
04.26.22 – Victoria, BC @ Capitol Ballroom
04.27.22 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Theatre
04.29.22 – Grande Prairie, AB @ KMSC Theatre
04.30.22 – Edmonton, AB @ The Station
05.05.22 – Burnstown, ON @ Neat Cafe
05.06.22 – Ottawa, ON @ First Baptist Church
05.07.22 – Montreal, QC @ Sala Rosa