Reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the second album from Ben Marc, the pseudonym for Neil Charles – who uses it to bring together two split musical personalities. ‘Ben’ covers his jazz side, playing bass, guitar and keys as a member of the groups Tomorrow’s Warriors and Zed-U, with Shabaka Hutchings and Tom Skinner, as well as touring experience with Mulatu Astatke. ‘Marc’ brings in the hip-hop, reggae and soul from Birmingham, where he grew up, and covers the appropriations of J Dilla that worked so well in debut album Glass Effect.

Who Cares Wins is a play on the British SAS motto, and captures Marc’s musical personality, featuring carefully thought-out instrumentation and subtle humour. It is perhaps telling that one of his key influences in writing the album was Peter Falk’s detective Columbo.

What’s the music like?

Consistently engaging. This is music for the brain and the feet, with spoken word that is both thoughtfully compiled and instinctive. At times there is a classical purity to Marc’s scoring, which we hear in the extended string quartet episodes of the title track, or even the long-breathed guitar line on Love.

The musical language is fresh and interesting, a cosmopolitan approach that isn’t afraid to mix it up between West Coast warmth, a bit of East Coast grit and English humour. At times the music is reminiscent of Arrested Development, which is fitting as Back Again, the album’s choice track, features them alongside Speech.

Confucius MC is a telling presence on Days & Nights, which closes out the album, but by the time we get there Ben Marc has given us plenty of music and words for thought.

Does it all work?

It does, thanks to an ideal ebb and flow between each track that benefits the greater good. Profound insights and humourous asides sit comfortably hand in hand.

Is it recommended?

Enthusiastically. Who Cares Wins might have been lost in the release schedule, dropping as it did at the start of December, but it is a fine album that deserves to grace many a player.

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,771 – Sunday 18 January 2026