biographical info
“It took Ben Gunning a while, but he did at last release what could be his Moby Dick.”(Metro News)
The Zunior Music Label proudly presents Mal De Mer, the brand new album from Ben Gunning.
Beginning as front man and founding member of the 90s alternative cult band Local Rabbits, Gunning has been a part of the Canadian music scene for 15 years. He's toured with national icons such as Sloan, The Inbreds, and the Rheostatics, and as a solo artist and writer, has collaborated with Neko Case, Mantler and Thrush Hermit, among others. “He has refined a kind of mellow, introspective and soulful pop that, though immensely accessible, remains somewhat left of center and still maintains something of the non-conformist nature of the band he devoted 12 years of his life to. And for that we can all be grateful.” (Express/Hour)
Mal De Mer, the long-awaited follow-up to Gunning’s debut record (Beigy Blur), is a 13 song ‘song cycle’ that chronicles the growing disillusionment of a cruise ship employee, produced by Zack G (Mantler, Landau). “Written in meticulously rhymed prose and sung in Gunning’s distinctive taut falsetto, the lyrics vividly depict a godless, unnatural world full of societal alienation and frivolous entertainment, and its effect on the protagonist’s spirit. All of this is set to equally ambitious, and nearly unclassifiable, music that combines jazz, R&B, hip-hop and prog rock...Moreover, it’s funky as hell.”(Now Weekly)
Press Quotes:
“Ben Gunning has an exquisite sense of melody” – Mojo Magazine
“It’s a funky, beautiful album” (Mal de Mer - 4 stars) – Eye Weekly
lineup
Robin Buckley Drums
Dafydd Hughes Keys
Douglas Friesen Bass
Ben Gunning Songs, Vocals, Guitar