Progressive Discoveries

Progression Through Discovery


  • Music
    • CD Reviews
    • Gig Reviews
    • Progressive Discoveries
  • Wine
    • White Wine
    • Red Wine
    • Sparkling Wine
  • Books
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Novelty, Innovation, Creativity, Finesse, Wisdom
  • About
  • Contact Page

Frost* – Falling Satellites

26/12/2016 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Sound. Big, big sound. Glorious walls of sizzling, throbbing, energetic sound which sweep you along and enthusiastically caress you with a fizzing sense of vibrancy and effervescence. Eight years on from the highly regarded Experiments in Mass Appeal (mark that title, for we will return to its possible significance shortly) Frost* are back with a thoroughly modern and impressively contemporary offering which stands as a truly remarkable demonstration of how to intelligently – as well as lovingly – fashion progressive music in the 21st century.

Progressive music is, by definition, always evolving, always probing the boundaries and exploring the possibilities of new influences, movements and ideas. That we have become so accustomed to the pairing of ‘progressive’ and ‘rock’ may feel comfortable in terms of the kinds of music to which we listen but it does not always do justice to the way such music is allowed to develop and grow beyond the familiar.

It is not just rock which is progressive. We have seen the rise of progressive metal, progressive jazz and progressive pop, which in turn opens the door to progressive electronica, house, trance and other forms of music. And it is possibly no coincidence that song writer and keyboardist Jem Godfrey believes the new album represents “our strongest album to date and moves the sound forward whilst still referencing what has gone before”.

Taken in conjunction with what Experiments in Mass Appeal might broadly be suggesting, then it is clear that Godfrey has spent the intervening years sampling a multitude of particularly modern, popular forms and varieties of music which progress their respective genres whilst remaining true to its core character and sound.

That he has learned from his samplings becomes crystal clear in the new album. Take Towerblock (Track 3) as the prime example. At time mark 1.40 the music explodes into a variant dub step sequence which is short, staccato, arresting and powerful. He enhances this with a full contemporary synthesizer sound, creating sweeping, spacious vistas leading to and blending with an anthemic chorus in the very finest of prog traditions before opening the door to a mixture of guitar and synth solos. But listen carefully; not only does the staccato return at time mark 6.03 but these are supplemented throughout by sequenced arpeggio layers building up an impressive wall of sound production style.

In a similar vein the opening 15 seconds of Heartstrings (Track 6) are a heavy keyboard electronic riff, with pounding beat/rock drumming entering the mix at 0.15, with a glorious synth hook arriving at 0.30 and setting the tone for the rest of the track. A symphonic chorus arrives at 1.20 before the hook takes over again at 1.51, reprised again at 4.40. It’s a masterful and quite brilliant example of progressive rock being infiltrated, blended and spliced with techniques and styles from popular music. It works. And it works very well.

The influence of co-writer John Mitchell is also clearly apparent from the driving, heavy purposeful rock of Numbers (Track 2), the archetypal Frost* cadences Signs (Track 4) and some scintillating guitar work in Closer to the Sun (Track 7).  Craig Blundell’s drumming is the perfect balance of aggression and spirited passion throughout whilst Nathan King’s bass work is inspirational in following the splicing of styles and techniques, pumping out diverse rhythms, discordant contrasts and varied harmonies.

This is thoroughly modern prog. Across 11 songs, including the dazzling 32 minute Sunshine Suite, it is also enjoyably intense and thoroughly stirring rock. It is bold in daring to go in directions and experiment with techniques where few seem willing to go in pushing the boundaries of mass appeal. But the reward is an album full of happy inventiveness, creative exuberance and fresh ingenuity. Falling Satellites fearlessly shows what is possible when progressive rock well and truly opens its doors and embraces contemporary moods and feelings.

This review first appeared for The Progressive Aspect
http://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2016/07/29/frost-falling-satellites/

TRACK LISTING
CD

First Day (1:37)
Numbers (4:21)
Towerblock (6:13)
Signs (6:36)
Lights Out (3:52)
a. Heartstrings (6:20)
b. Closer To The Sun (7:20)
c. The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues (7:49)
d. Nice Day For It (6:37)
e. Hypoventilate (2:00)
f. Last Day (3:01)

CD Bonus tracks:
Lantern (3:45)
British Wintertime (6:29)

MUSICIANS
Craig Blundell – Drums
Jem Godfrey – Vocals, Keys, Railboard, Guitar
Nathan King – Bass
John Mitchell – Guitars, Vocals

ADDITIONAL INFO
Label: Inside Out Music
27/05/2016
Special Edition CD, Mediabook Ltd.
CD Digipak
Gatefold black 2LP+CD
Gatefold white 2LP+CD
Gatefold clear 2LP+CD
Digital album

LINKS
Band Website: http://frost.life/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Official-Frost-154098904622178/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Here_Be_Frost
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfwcuf6eoSd80RjwdZuvwHQ/

Please feel free to share this post....Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: Craig Blundell, Falling Satellites, Frost*, InsideOut Music, Jem Godfrey, John Mitchell, Nathan King, neo progressive rock

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

5bridgeS: The Thomas Tracks: 2009

Please Note:

The web site is presently under initial construction.
  • E-mail
  • Twitter

Books

Phil Collins: Not Dead Yet

17/04/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Time and public perception have been neither kind nor entirely fair to Phil Collins. A hugely impressive song-writer, musician, performer and (to a … Continue Reading

Justin Cronin: The Passage

01/03/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

I am normally dismissive of 'long' books. My general rule of thumb is anyone who needs more than 400 pages to tell a story probably isn't a good … Continue Reading

Alastair Reynolds: Revelation Space

26/11/2016 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

For someone who claims to be a lover of science fiction writing it seems mighty strange that it has taken me this long to discover the literary … Continue Reading

Education

An Interdisciplinary Life

11/01/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher 2 Comments

21st century life is fundamentally interdisciplinary. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, we live interdisciplinary lives. In all our … Continue Reading

Travel

Hawaii’s Secret Getaway Spots

10/10/2013 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Archives

  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2013

Tags

AirbagBjørn RiisBrody GreenCam BloklandconcertCraig Blundellcrossover progDamanekDaniel TompkinsDanny LoprestoDave FosterFrançois FournierGentle Art of MusicInsideOut MusicIslington Assembly HallJean-Sébastien GoyetteJean PageauJem GodfreyJez MartinJohn MitchellKaribowKarisma RecordsKscopeMarek ArnoldMichel St-PèreMysteryNathan Kingneo progressive rockNick BeggsOakOliver RüsingProgressive MetalProgressive Promotion Recordsred wineSean TimmsSouthern EmpireSteve HackettSub89Sylvain MoineauThomas ThielenThresholdVolaWaitroseWhite Star RecordsYatim Halimi

Progression Through Discovery

Progressive Discoveries explores the worlds of progressive (rock) music, wine, education and travel, providing information, articles, reviews and opinion pieces written by Dr Rob Fisher and invited guest writers.

"Welcome to an interdisciplinary life. I care about things which have inherent meaning, value and purpose in a discordant and fractured world and passionately believe that interdisciplinarity is a way of living in the world which is capable of transforming people's lives. Being interdisciplinary gives you the tools you need to live your life more effectively and to cope a little better with making sense of the experiences we all wrestle with on a daily basis." Rob Fisher

Recent

  • Oak – False Memory Archive
  • Top Picks of 2018
  • Mystery – Lies and Butterflies
  • Southern Empire – Civilisation
  • The Paradox Twin – The Importance of Mr Bedlam
  • Queen – The O2 Arena, London, July 2018
  • Yuka and Chronoship – Ship
  • Subsignal – La Muerta

Search

Tags

Airbag Bjørn Riis Brody Green Cam Blokland concert Craig Blundell crossover prog Damanek Daniel Tompkins Danny Lopresto Dave Foster François Fournier Gentle Art of Music InsideOut Music Islington Assembly Hall Jean-Sébastien Goyette Jean Pageau Jem Godfrey Jez Martin John Mitchell Karibow Karisma Records Kscope Marek Arnold Michel St-Père Mystery Nathan King neo progressive rock Nick Beggs Oak Oliver Rüsing Progressive Metal Progressive Promotion Records red wine Sean Timms Southern Empire Steve Hackett Sub89 Sylvain Moineau Thomas Thielen Threshold Vola Waitrose White Star Records Yatim Halimi

Copyright © 2021 · Dr Rob Fisher · Progressive Discoveries · Progression through Discovery