Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

You would expect nothing else but brilliance from a man who once metaphorically and lyrically had gone to Bolivia and whose humour is intelligent, well observed and keenly delivered across his music; a performer to whom popular doesn’t quite describe his appeal but one to whom the story is attention grabbing and an absolute pleasure to hear.

In Ben Sures, humour is only part of the evening, the in between friendly banter, the asides and the repartee go a long way to be sure, however around the beautiful edge is a collection of songs that are charming and sincere, a reflection not only of the man and his music, but the hope in which we would all like to be seen if we had the opportunity and the exquisite natural ability.

The great stage presence is one thing, the calmness he exudes is another, but it is the whole package that he presents in his latest album, Poema Poematis, that marks this Canadian musician out as incredibly special.

The album is a collection of song performed live but with the added radiance of being arranged by Edmonton trombonist Audrey Ochoa and her assembled horn section, a different sense of pleasure gained as this once in a lifetime performance is captured for all time and in a quite a remarkable fashion.

Whether in the songs such as the opening track, Marie Marie, Winnipeg, the excellent In Burma, the oddly titled but completely absorbing subject of Used To Have A Raygun and the sublime Everybody Matters, these live versions of his popular songs are a dream for fans to come across; an assurance of spirit that Mr. Sures possesses but to which is rarely seem across the Atlantic Ocean and performed in Britain.

The sense of security felt is outstanding, the unmatched enthusiasm palpable and steeped in a kind of glory reserved for albums that used to come out of the music publishing houses in New York, Detroit or Nashville. In Ben Sures that glory has always been there, it has always found a way through the cracks in even the stoniest of hearts, Poema Poematis is a version of songs that are nothing short of awesome.

Ian D. Hall