Ben Lee. His songs are melded visions of strict autobiography and megalomaniacal revolutionary escapism. Weaving fragile lines between melodic story telling, sharp songwriting and a developing self awareness, his tunes are portraits of ideas and emotions that often transcend the boundaries of their creator. Ben's songs exist in the world where a commitment to adventure and reckless ambition are the only recognizable landmarks, as he sings about his personal observations on Life, Love and the Universe.
Ben Lee made his auspicious stage debut in '93 fronting indie rockers Noise Addict, a foursome of Sydney school friends who's inaugural performance was a gig at a library book sale. Catching the eye of promoter and Fellaheen Records head Stephen Pavlovic, the band were quickly signed to the label that same year releasing the semi-controversied Evan Dando nod/poke 7" "I Wish I Was Him" when the average age of the group was a mere 14. Soon after, Sonic Youth guy Thurston Moore signed the band to his Ecstatic Peace label championing their work as "the best all time interpersonal fractured songwriting ever put on tape," and released an EP entitled DEF.
Noise Addict would, soon afterwards, release their Young & Jaded EP in June '94 on the, then fledgling Grand Royal label under the auspices of Beastie Boy Mike D. Mike, like Moore, recognized greatness when he saw it. The EP would get nothing less than a hero's welcome here in the States culling favorable reviews from many crits, but stateside opportunities to see the band's dynamo live shows would be lost to burgeoning school schedules, etc...
Ben's solo debut Grandpaw Would would come soon after. Produced by Chicago luminary Brad Wood, the long player earned Ben high praise from his peers, press and radio, garnering a top spot on the college charts for several weeks. Released on Grand Royal in March '95, Grandpaw Would proved to be an evocative debut release. The record showcased an accomplished songwriter at the ripe old age of 16 and incited Aussie journos to quip "Ben Lee is the greatest Australian songwriter of all time."
A new Noise Addict offering would then be released in January of the following year. Entitled Meet The Real You, the debut (and swan song) long player by the band saw helmsman Brad Wood trek it to Sydney to meet up with Ben and friends Romy Hoffman, Saul Smith and Daniel Kohn. The record would, like previous releases, tear up the college charts and find the rock press throwing their arms around the band. It would also prompt a stateside tour displaying a flourishing mandate to rock. But alas, Noise Addict would soon go the way of many a power pop group and disband blaming scheduling conflicts and varying interests. Young Ben would carry on though, ever-grasping for the musical brass ring proclaiming to Paper Magazine in March '96, "I'm gonna bungee jump into territory that hasn't been covered since Hootie did a duet with Bjork, with Exodus as the backing band."
And bungee jump he did. While fans anticipated a slick commercial pop record, Ben took a left at the crossroads and delivered a rich and complex collection of acoustically wrought songs. He recorded the folk-tinged Something To Remember Me By in Spring '97 which saw Brad Wood at the board once again, this time choosing Los Angeles as his home base. The production partnership of Ben and Brad turned what was essentially 18 simple acoustic ditties into an engaging album of ideas. This record allowed Ben to explore his roots as a singer/songwriter having been inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright III, among others. "I've seen the future of rock and roll... and it's name is Ben Lee," quipped Jon Spencer Blues Explosion drummer Russell Simins.
Now on the eve of the release of Ben's brand new album Breathing Tornados, it is clear that the curve balls Ben has thrown his fans throughout his short career have all been part of a master plan leading to this new creation. Breathing Tornados is his most accomplished work to date. The record was tracked at a Los Angeles apartment owned by a curious figure named One Arm Joe. The apartment, adequately dubbed One Arm Joe's Orgy Pad seemed a perfect setting for the creative process although recording would be often interrupted by Joe's appearing naked and drunk in the morning smashing his own glass windows.
However, despite the turbulent environment, Ben and producer Ed Buller (Suede, Pulp, Spiritualized) managed to put together a highly cohesive body of work. Described by Ben as "a lush, organic, synthesized pop record," Breathing Tornados mixes his unique songwriting style with textures not yet heard in his records. Additionally, Ben and Ed recorded the album entirely on computers using mostly synthesized sounds. However, this was more out of the necessity to experiment unencumbered by human emotion rather than an attempt to embrace techno-fashion.
Ironically, the result is a warm and vibrant album of songs spanning many moods but with an undoubtedly pre-millennium vibe. Ben's lyrics on Breathing Tornados are in keeping with this dichotomy, dealing for the most part with the concept of detaching from one's environment and creating and dictating a more customized fantasy/reality. While "Ship My Body Home" deals with the idea of dying away from the safety of your birthplace, "I Am A Sunflower" touches upon the aforementioned idea of detachment, opening with the line "Today, a boy becomes a man."
Although largely written by Ben, the album also features selected collaborative contributions from Gummo director/Kids screenwriter Harmony Korine who co-wrote "Tornados." In addition, "Sandpaperback" was co-written by Buller and That Dog's Petra Hayden takes co-writing credit on "Nothing Much Happens" and "Nighttime." Other guest artists include Sean Lennon and Donovan Leitch, who contribute backing vocals on more than one track.
For a closing reflection on Breathing Tornados, Ben says, "It's sexy. It sounds like Lou Reed buying drinks for Marvin Gaye."
Breathing Tornados was released on Grand Royal/Capitol Records on March 9th, 1999.
