Ben Poole returns with Post-Midnight Behaviour; releases single ‘Runaway Souls’ featuring Elles Bailey

# What happened Ben Poole released Post-Midnight Behaviour on 25 September through Gypsy Soul Records. It's his first studio album made up entirely of new songs since Anytime You Need Me (2018). The release coincides with the single and official video for 'Runaway Souls', which features Elles Bailey on guest vocals.

# What the album sounds like Across nine main tracks Poole moves beyond the straight blues-rock he's been known for. The record draws on blues, rock, soul, country and alternative rock while keeping a darker, after-hours mood. The atmosphere is intentionally nocturnal: layered arrangements, reflective moments and guitar work placed inside more spacious, emotional settings.

Poole describes the aim plainly: he wanted the album to capture how he's grown as a guitarist, singer and songwriter after years on the road. He says his guitar still gets to "unleash", but now it sits inside something more atmospheric and emotionally charged — the after-hours mood that inspired the title.

# The single: 'Runaway Souls' 'Runaway Souls' is positioned as one of the album's biggest moments. Elles Bailey takes lead guest vocal over driving guitars and heavy drums, with Poole contributing one of his trademark solos. The track builds toward a prominent guitar solo and places Bailey's voice against the band: Wayne Proctor on drums and Steve Amadeo on bass.

# Songs to note The record opens with the darker, layered 'No Second Chances', moves into the sultry groove of 'Empty', and includes the harder, urgent 'Time Has No Mercy'. Other highlights described in the release notes:

• 'Living On Repeat (Buried in the Background)': fuzzier, more fragmented textures.
• 'Summer Haze': brighter textures and a focus on memory in a relationship.
• 'Searching': a restless early-hours mood.
• 'Start Of The End': closes the album, starting with fracture and regret and moving toward renewal.

# Who made it Production credits and personnel listed for the project:

• Producers: Ben Poole, Wayne Proctor, Oli Brown.
• Recording locations: House of Tone Mix Suite and Superfly Studios, Nottinghamshire.
• Songwriters: all tracks co-written by Ben Poole, Oli Brown, Wayne Proctor and Steve Amadeo.
• Musicians: Ben Poole (guitar, vocals), Wayne Proctor (drums), Steve Amadeo (bass), Bennett Holland (Hammond organ, piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes), Oli Brown (backing vocals, Moog). Elles Bailey guests on 'Runaway Souls'.

# Tour and availability

# Bottom line Post-Midnight Behaviour presents Ben Poole intentionally moving his guitar-led sound into moodier, late-night territory while retaining strong rock and blues roots. The Elles Bailey collaboration gives the release a clear single with a vocal counterpoint to Poole's guitar work, and the autumn tour will take the material to UK audiences live.