These Waters

Released in 2009, These Waters is the second EP from Ben Howard and serves as a critical bridge between his early acoustic demos and his breakthrough debut LP, Every Kingdom. Recorded before the heavy use of delay pedals and electric soundscapes that would define his later career, this record highlights his technical mastery of the acoustic guitar. The EP is notable for the inclusion of 'The Wolves', a track that became a staple of his live sets and showcased his ability to blend percussive guitar techniques with anthemic, folk-rock structures. The production is remarkably dry and intimate compared to his later 'wet' reverb-heavy style, placing the focus entirely on his raspy vocal delivery and the rhythmic interplay of his hands on the instrument. It remains a fan favorite for its raw, unvarnished energy and its pure distillation of the 'coastal folk' sound that emerged from the Devon surf scene in the late 2000s.