The prolific Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Ben Arnold has unveiled his deeply soulful new single, “Long Tall Shadow,” a stunning taste of his full-length album, XI, available now on ALP Recordings! With his wonderfully gruff vocals, Arnold masterfully contemplates the passage of time over a melancholy sonic landscape where gushing pedal steel adds a captivating cosmic sound, while sublime piano makes the entire track feel both elegant and utterly timeless. Arnold shares that the song was “Written in real time,” as he examined his personal life and deep connection to the contemplative fall season—a mood that perfectly translates into this powerful, minor-key masterpiece.
XI is a brilliant tapestry of American sound, pulling from folk, blues, soul, rock & roll, and classic pop, and was produced by Shane Smith and mixed by Barrie Maguire. Arnold assembled a magnificent band of longtime friends and collaborators, including the legendary drummer Pete Thomas. This long-storied career artist, who has shared the stage with everyone from Lucinda Williams to John Mayer, is once again blurring genre lines and redefining the amplified American roots music that kickstarted his journey, following the acclaimed first single “Catch The Lightning.”