Fever Dream (Ben Watt album)

Fever Dream
Studio album by
Ben Watt
Released8 April 2016
RecordedLondon
Length43:07
LabelUnmade Road
ProducerBen Watt
Ben Watt chronology
Hendra
(2014) 		Fever Dream
(2016) 		Storm Damage
(2020)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Financial Times[3]
The Guardian[4]
Mojo[5]
The Music[6]
musicOMH[7]
Pitchfork6.8/10[8]
PopMatters8/10[9]
Q[10]
Uncut9/10[11]

Fever Dream is the third solo studio album by English singer, songwriter, author, and multi-instrumentalist Ben Watt.[12][13] It was released on 8 April 2016 on Unmade Road. Self-produced at RAK Studios in London, it continues his relationship with guitarist Bernard Butler, begun on his award-winning 2014 album Hendra,[14] and adds guest cameos from MC Taylor of North Carolina folk-rock band Hiss Golden Messenger, and Boston singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler. It received a 9/10 review in Uncut magazine.[15] In a four-star review, the Guardian said: 'In his early 50s, he is making some of the best music of his career.'[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ben Watt, except where noted.

Fever Dream track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Gradually"5:29
2."Fever Dream"3:51
3."Between Two Fires"3:20
4."Winter's Eve"4:05
5."Women's Company"5:09
6."Faces of My Friends"4:50
7."Running with the Front Runners"4:41
8."Never Goes Away"2:52
9."Bricks and Wood"4:22
10."New Year of Grace" (Benjamin Goldwasser, Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Watt)4:28

Personnel

  • Ben Watt – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, piano, synthesizer
  • Bernard Butler – electric guitar
  • Martin Ditcham – drums, percussion
  • Rex Horan – bass
  • Marissa Nadler – backing vocals on "New Year of Grace"
  • M.C. Taylor – backing vocals on "Fever Dream"

Charts

Chart performance for Fever Dream
Chart (2016) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 53

References

  1. ^ "Reviews for Fever Dream by Ben Watt". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  2. ^ Jurek, Thom (8 April 2016). "Fever Dream - Ben Watt". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  3. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (8 April 2016). "Ben Watt: Fever Dream — review". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  4. ^ Simpson, Dave (7 April 2016). "Ben Watt: Fever Dream review – keen-eyed songs about human relationships". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  5. ^ Wintery Brit-folk closer New Year Of Grace is also special, a full-circle update on the steadfast, if weatherbeaten, live affair which the Opening track Gradually visits earlier in ts slow-burning voyage. [May 2016, p.89]
  6. ^ Johnston, Tara (4 April 2016). "Album Review: Ben Watt - Fever Dream". The Music. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  7. ^ Murphy, John (23 April 2016). "Ben Watt – Fever Dream". musicOMH. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  8. ^ Hart, Ron (14 April 2016). "Fever Dream - Ben Watt". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ^ Horowitz, Steve (14 April 2016). "Ben Watt: Fever Dream". PopMatters. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ^ Fever Dream's AOR and folk stylings see Watt picking over the bones of his life, ruminating on such themes of love, loss and family in a wry, wise and unsentimental manner. [Jun 2016, p.117]
  11. ^ Suffused in both the dread mortality inspires and the peace that comes with accepting its inevitability, it simultaneously addresses the effects that the passing of years has on one's relationships and the compromises these demand. [May 2016, p.66]
  12. ^ "Ben Watt – watch the video to his new single Gradually". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  13. ^ Laggan, Michelle. "Ben Watt – "Fever Dream" (Feat. Hiss Golden Messenger) (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Hendra Award". Clash Music. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Uncut Review". Uncut. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Guardian Review". The Guardian.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
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