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██▌ Artist...: Frost* ░▐██▌
░▐██ Album....: Life in the Wires ░██▌░
▓▐██ Year.....: 2024 ▓▐██▓
▓▐██ Rel. Date: 2024-12-22 ░▐██▓
▐██ Genre....: Progressive Rock ██▌░
░ ██▌ Label....: Inside Out Music / Sony Music ██▌
▐██ Source...: CD ▐██
░▐██▌ Type.....: Retail ▐██▌░
▓▄████ Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo ████▌░
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CD 1/2 :
1. Skywaving 1:57
2. Life in the Wires (Part 1) 5:30
3. This House of Winter 6:10
4. The Solid State Orchestra 6:35
5. Evaporator 8:09
6. Strange World 5:09
7. Idiot Box 4:58
8. Absent Friends 3:57
CD 2/2 :
1. School (Introducing The All Seeing Eye) 3:12
2. Propergander 5:34
3. Sign of Life 5:43
4. Moral and Consequence 8:13
5. Life in the Wires (Part 2) 15:51
6. Starting Fires 4:45
85:43
Ivor Novello award-winning composer and musician Jem Godfrey is best
known for co-writing and producing a number of commercially successful
songs for some well known musicians. His own band Frost* are about to
release their new album Life In The Wires which is a direct follow up to
their last album, Day And Age, this has set up the premise for the new
one. Fleshing out the imaginary world whoÆs character imagined on the
previous album was searching to be heard, we are introduced to Naio, who
Jem Godfrey describes as an aimless kid heading for a meaningless future
in an AI run world. He hears an old DJ talking on the ancient AM radio
his mother once gave him and decides to trace the source of the signal
and find ôLivewireö to see if thereÆs a better future out there.
However, the All Seeing Eye is less than impressed at this bid for
independent thought and fights back. Soon Naio finds himself pursued
across the country by an outraged mob as he tries to locate the home of
Livewire and his freedom.
æLife in the WiresÆ features the welcome return of drummer Craig
Blundell (æBlundersÆ to the band), to join the continued guitar and
vocal services of stalwart John Mitchell (also known as æConnaughtÆ),
the wonderful Nathan King on bass, and Mr Jem Godfrey himself doing just
about everything else including lead vocals. Now I have a problem with
John as I love his material and own all his output, but such is his
distinctive voice and guitar work, that at times other peopleÆs albums
on which he features can sound like John Mitchell and Friends. But on
this concept album the consistency of Jem GodfreyÆs lead vocals, adds
that distinguishing edge without John having to compromise.
Three tracks are already available to listen to on YouTube, (Life in the
Wires, Part 1, Moral And Consequence and Idiot Box) which all seem to
have been greeted with great enthusiasm. So, fortified with cold
remedies, letÆs without further ado, climb into the comfort of the album
and delve into the individual tracks.
The first and shortest track on the new album, æSkywavingÆ, starts with
the end of the last track from the previous album ôRepeat to Fade,ö
where the static comes up and a voice says ôCan you hear me?ö Looping
keys swirl as Naio decides he will follow his dream and the voice he has
heard in the hope of finding a destiny of promise.
Notes blast morse code like from the speakers as if there is æLife in
the Wires, Part 1'. The voice of æLivewireÆ on the radio urging anyone
listening, to step out of the dystopia they are living in and seek him
out for a new life, as keys and guitars fizz across the airwaves,
plundered by drums and bass. The signal drifts out on melancholy piano
keys, is there something out there?
(A pause to blow my nose and grab another hot drink, must keep up the
liquids and weÆre back to it).
The piano drifts into the next song lyrics lamenting sorrowfully on a
once warm family home devastatingly affected by circumstances and
grieving guitar solo, turning it into æThis House Of WinterÆ. Warm
breezes of instrumentation waft across the grooves easing the chill and
drift into the following numberà.
æThe Solid State OrchestraÆ, as Naio prepares to defy the All Seeing Eye
and set off on his dangerous search of paradise, will it be worth it?
Will he find what he is looking for? He steps outside to the noises of
the street.
Leaving no note he intends to escape the city and disappear like a mist
created by an æEvaporatorÆ,the music flows with urgency and thereÆs an
increase in excitement and trepidation with bursts of guitar, as the
rhythm section of bass and drums drive him forward with JemÆs keys
holding it all together.
(For me this is probably the catchiest track on the album and I find
myself wandering round singing the chorus, between sneezes).
Livewirebroadcasts on the hour every hour whilst Naio tries to find his
way through this æStrange WorldÆ on a more ambient track that blossoms
and throbs to life with delicate keyboard passages from JemÆs nimble
fingers.
The reverie is broken as guitar crashes in buzzing like an angry wasp
and the keys jab with accusing pointed fingers. We donÆt care what you
want, do as you are expected and watch the Idiot Box. Turn against
anyone who does not conform, they are the enemy, like a cold virus, like
Naio. A message of encouragement from Livewire as another hour passes,
keeps him going.
Confident in the affirmation of his decision to continue his quest, Naio
thinks fondly of æAbsent FriendsÆ he has had to leave behind on this
gentle keys and orchestrated sound, no connections to link them to him
as it is too dangerous. TheyÆre gone but not forgotten.
Obedience. All should follow, to learn subservience at the æSchool
(Introducing The All Seeing Eye)Æ (ASE) and be taught not to stray, as
this foreboding instrumental patrols the grooves ensuring all toe the
line. No revolution will be tolerated as the music storms forward.
The campaign and aggressive music search to discredit Naio and
æPropergandaÆ is spread for all to hear, that he is not well and is
against the ASE. The marching wall of instrumentation tries to rout him
out and leave him no place to hide. Another message from Livewire with
well wishes, but saying farewell.
(Another break for a hot drink and menthol lozenge to clear my head a
little and focus on this welcome distraction).
The last message has left Naio doubting and questioning himself on this
subdued track. He had hoped to find a æSign Of LifeÆ, but nothing other
than repeat messages. Has this all been a futile dream, has it all been
for nothing. This siren seems to have led him astray trying to crush his
dreams on the rocks of oppression?
He thinks of the æMoral and ConsequenceÆ he may face for his actions as
fraught guitar goes round and round in his head. He had to try, there
must be more to life, outside the reach of the ASE. He is ready to face
whatever happens heÆs no longer afraid.
Is there æLife In The Wires (Part 2)æ on this penultimate track of epic,
composed music? There most certainly is with deliberate nods to the most
excellent Milliontown from 2006, paying homage as it nears itÆs 20th
anniversary, most noticeably on this, the longest track that builds with
a cornucopia of soloÆs and rhythmic passages, meshed beautifully
together. It ripples with ribbons of joy and flourishes like fields of
swaying wheat blessed in sun-kissed fields, golden and bright.
There must be more to life, everyone needs to stand up and make waves,
æStarting FiresÆ of change and believe. The revolution will build, take
shape and change the world and musical thinking as the album draws to a
close, waving the banner for a better future.
Jem said he wanted to return to solos after the restraint and focus on
astute arrangements for Day And Age, which has I feel added impetus to
Life In The Wires, making it sound fresh and alive, with the band
gelling as one in perfect harmony and synchronisation. It may not have
cured my cold, but it is powerful enough to lift my spirits and give me
the warm glow I always feel inside when an album hits the spot.
Milliontown is one of the most successful prog rock albums of the last
20 years and rightly held in high regard, lauded by fans and critics
alike. Life In The Wires may not surpass it but damn! it runs it close.
One of the best concept albums IÆve heard for sometime and one of the
best albums of the year so far.
Frost* have certainly still got plenty of life in their wires, can you
here me?
æLife In The WiresÆ will be available as a Limited 2CD, Gatefold 180g
2LP and as Digital Album, with subtle difference across the 3 formats
for added interest. The album features artwork design by Carl Glover,
who also designed the cover of æDay And AgeÆ.
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