Some people send postcards and then there’s Ben Salter. The troubadour spent five months in Europe and rather than come home with souvenirs, he has gone and produced the European Vacation.
These seven tracks follow on from his debut solo album, “The Cat”. It also references the country, folk, rock and pop that he’s known for producing in the bands: Wilson Pickers, Giants of Science and The Gin Club.
“The Prophetess” is where the record peaks with some Neil Young-style distortion and psych rock. It also provides the soundtrack to a trek up an Icelandic mountain plus a local myth.
German-Australian chanteuse, Christa Vi features on “Tremulous”. This one could have come from the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “It’s Blitz” because this electro-tinged pop is perhaps Salter’s strangest curveball.
On other tracks Salter steers things back to his more typical course with country music in Ireland and some indie folk with fellow Gin Clubber, Ola Karlsson in Sweden.
“Not Today” is one that sees Salter playing acoustic guitars and harmonising away to dark folk music that sits somewhere between Elliott Smith and Josh Pyke before things end on a strange note with a collage of sonic elements, “Lecce” or a hyper-surreal walk through Italian fields.
Salter’s EP is a solid one filled with eloquent lyrics and some subtle, yet very varied instrumentation. It makes the proceedings seem interesting enough but at times you can’t help but wonder whether Salter’s travels are more exciting for him to relive than for the listener to enjoy.
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