Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller returns to tour Australian in April in support of new album CHANGING HORSES, released through Shock Records 31st January.

The album is his fourth full-length and was produced by Kweller and recorded mostly in Austin, TX, where he and his family recently re-located. The title is meaningful as it represents a sea change for the 27-year-old Texan-bred musician. Beginning with his fi rst record, Sha Sha, released in 2002, Kweller’s albums have always been stylistically restless, moving from indie rock to ballads to anti-folk to melodic chug rock, often from song to song.

Changing Horses, on the other hand, is of one mind -- a full-blown, straight up country affair, brimming with immaculate pedal steel, twang and multi-part harmonies. It features his touring band -- Chris Morrissey on bass and vocals, and Mark Stepro on drums and vocals -- as well as the brilliant Kitt Kitterman on pedal steel. Like all of Kweller’s work, the new album is fi lled with unforgettable melodies and deeply soulful lyrics that could only come from someone as sensitive to the human spirit as he is. To make the record, Kweller dug down to his deepest roots. "I grew up bass-fi shing, playing in creeks, and shooting BB guns," Kweller says. "Country music was the soundtrack to my life. It’s still a big part of who I am. When Garth Brooks or Alan Jackson come on the radio, somethin’ happens inside. Brings me back to the trees, back to pushin’ cars out of the mud. Reminds me of my hometown."

For Kweller, releasing a country album is the realization of a long-held goal. "I’ve been working on Horses for years." he says. "I wrote the first song for it when I was 16. Over time, I’ve collected these songs that fi t together and wanted to release them together. I didn’t want to try and fit them on my other albums one or two at a time."