Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atomic Kitten pop hitmaker in prog masterpiece shock!, 17 Aug 2006
Jem Godfrey is unknown within prog circles, but is a highly successful pop songwriter and producer. He has produced number 1 singles like "Whole Again" by Atomic Kitten and "That's My Goal" for X-Factors Shayne Ward. So top pop credentials then, but what's he like at prog? Well on the evidence of this debut album for his band Frost* pretty sensational. Though his bread and butter is modern pop, Godfrey's musical first love is prog and at last he gets the chance to show what he can do. Bringing in top talent like the ever-busy John Mitchell (Arena, Kino) and IQ's rhythm section, he is well supported.
The album starts with the instrumental, the aptly named "Hyperventilate". Beginning with a soft piano intro, the band then suddenly thunder in with a massive wall of sound. Right from the word go it is obvious this band mean business. This is rip-roaring stuff! Godfrey's songwriting and production skills developed producing all that nice pop are obvious throughout the 6 tracks which make up the album. Unusually for a prog rock album, there are lots of modern production techniques applied. The vocals are treated and samples and cut-up techniques are used to good effect to enhance the mood of the album. This brings a very fresh feel to the music and brings to mind the kind of modern, electronic feel to what OSI achieved on their debut album.
The highlight of the album is the epic, 26 minute title track. Lyrically based on a book concerning an apprentice to the Grim Reaper this is a wonderfully constructed piece. Melodically very strong and complex, Godfrey has pushed out all the stops on this. If anything I am reminded of one of Spock's Beard epic pieces, but very rarely did that band sound as energised or as fresh as this. John Mitchell's guitar playing is highly impressive throughout as is the rest of the band. Drummer Andy Edwards is a real find for IQ. All keyboard duties are delivered by Godfrey who keeps things colourful and tight utilising only modern digital instruments.
Along with The Tangents "A Place In The Queue" and Magenta's "Home" this is one of the outstanding albums of the year without a doubt. Further, this is one of the best prog rock debuts I have heard in a long time, maybe since "The Light" by Spock's Beard. Godfrey is already writing material for a second album and the band are planning live dates, so this looks like more than a 1off project which is very good news. By the way retro prog fans, he hates mellotrons and mini-moogs. Nobodies perfect!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great and modern rock album. Don't be put off by the 'Prog' tag., 18 Jan 2007
I'm not quite sure just how I stumbled upon this album, having only heard a handful of albums by both IQ and Arena (members of which collaborate on this project) but if the fantastic musicianship on great album is anything to go by then I'll definatly be reaching into their bach catologue. Don't let the whole 'prog' thing put you off this cd, because in doing so you'll miss out on one of the best releases of 2006.
The whole project is the brainchild of Jen Godfrey, whose previous music jobs included wrinting and production with Atomic Kitten and Shane Ward. I'll admit that this fact nearly out me off - was it a desperate attempt to be taken seriously outside of the pop industry? But think about it - how many times have you had an annoying pop tune stuck in your head? And have you ever heard anything pop single by any girlband/boyband/morons from the last ten years or more that wasn't well produced? What we have on this record, is a life-long prog fan (Genesis in particular) who's combined his passion for the genre with a proven abilty to write good hooks and crystal clear production - and it sounds great.
The styles go from heavy rock through some delicious yet modern prog and even some (very slight) hints of ambience (which works very well on "Snowman", it has to be said). Plus, the use of the latest technology (which has always been the essense of prog, other than the fusion of musical styles) enhances the songwriting, rather than overpowering it.
In other words, these are not simply sub-standard songs that are well produced and well performed, but great sonds that are excellently produced and brilliantly performed. A must have for even the casual prg fan. Try it if you like early genesis, Peter Gabriel and of course, IQ and Areana
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Album, 24 Jun 2006
This is truly a superb album, pulling from the best of the last 40 years of progressive rock, but taking it to a new and exciting place. Jem Godfrey has taken all the experiences from his years of writting and producing headline mainstream artists, as well as his love of progressive rock, and written an album of incredible quality and depth. Add to this, the cream of UK progressive rock in the form of John Jowitt (IQ, Jadis), John Mitchell (Arena, Urbane, Kino) and Andy Edwards (IQ, Robert Plant) and you can imagine the quality of the end product.
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