I Saw A Star Behind Your Eyes, Don’t Let It Die Away

It’s been five years since British trio Bennett Wilson Poole – Robin Bennett (Goldrush, Dreaming Spires), Danny Wilson (Grand Drive, Danny and the Champions of the World), and Tony Poole (Starry Eyed and Laughing) – hit the UK Americana scene like a hurricane with their brilliant, self-titled debut album.

The band picked up UK Artist of the Year at the 2019 UK Americana Awards – they collected their trophy in front of an audience that included Graham Nash himself – and soon established a loyal fanbase, as they became a live tour de force and a firm festival favourite. 

Their first album was intended to be a one-off collaborative project, but Bennett and Wilson soon found themselves working on new material. Sadly, due to Covid restrictions and also Poole suffering from health issues, album number two was delayed, but the good news is that he is now fighting fit and the record is out this spring – and, what’s more, it’s even better than its predecessor.

It doesn’t mess around. “Are you ready to rumble?” asks Wilson, before opening song, ‘I Saw Love’ kicks in – which is life-affirming and harmonic power pop, like The Byrds and The Beatles.

Poole, who as well as being a studio wizard – his inventive and playful production techniques transform Bennett and Wilson’s songs into gloriously rich pocket symphonies – is also king of the jangly, electric 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, which features prominently in the band’s sound, as does their superb vocal harmonies and arrangements.

Poole takes great delight in telling us that the ending of ‘I Saw Love’ features a sixth note harmony like The Beatles’ ‘She Loves You’. It’s just one of many moments on the album that reference classic rock and pop songs – listeners will have fun trying to spot them all. 

Anyone for a game of Bennett Wilson Poole bingo? I’ll start you off – ‘Tie-Dye T-Shirt’ has an intro that pays homage to The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ and features a vocal refrain of ‘open up your eyes,’ which echoes ‘Everlasting Love’ by ‘60s British pop band Love Affair.

“When Danny and Robin first laid down the basic voice and acoustic guitar track, they’d envisaged it as a Gram Parsons-type country song – little did they know,” says Poole. “I’d already somehow been inspired to reference The Who, but I don’t know where that came from – no special pills were involved.”

Bennett Wilson Poole’s first album was in love with the vintage sounds of America’s West Coast, but this collection of songs owes more to British ‘60s psych-pop like The Beatles and The Zombies. 

Ironically, though, ‘I Wanna Love You (But I Can’t Right Now)’ is about having a love/hate relationship with the USA – how the country’s dark political situation over the past few years has overshadowed all the great culture and art it has produced throughout history.

It’s an irresistible and infectious song and one of the album’s few country rock moments. 

The other is the gorgeous and nostalgic ‘Cry At The Movies’. Written about an old man who was born at the start of World War II and fell in love with the silver screen, it sounds like Neil Young teaming up with The Byrds circa Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

Album closer, the dream-like ‘The Sea and The Shore’, is a heartfelt and moving plea for unity, which started off with Bennett at his piano.

“I played everything else on it,” explains Poole. “It was a bit like Jeff Lynne working on John Lennon’s home recordings to create ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’. Danny put some harmonies on the verses too.”

He adds: “As a final reminder, I extended the last chord in the way that ‘A Day In The Life’ does. It just seemed that the song’s sentiments should still be playing for ever, long after the record was over.”

This is a fab album; all old-fashioned pop music, and classic rock ‘n’ roll. What’s not to love about that?

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