By: Carlos Martin Schwab
Being 54 years old and 20 years into my career as a music journalist, it’s very rare for me to find bands like Frost* that really impact me, but when that happens, it renews my faith in music. Going through some releases on the Inside Out record label, I came across this album and it blew my mind. Imagine if Peter Gabriel had never left Genesis, Tony Banks was much more original in his choice of keyboard sounds and they used more effects on the vocals. That’s what Frost* sounds like.
Frost* (yes, the band name ends with an asterisk) is the project of musician, singer-songwriter, and producer Jem Godfrey (keyboards and vocals), his colleague John Mitchell (Arena, Lonely Robot) on guitar and vocals, and Nathan King (Level 42) on bass. On drums, this album features 3 monster guest musicians: Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan, Josh Groban), Darby Todd (The Darkness, Martin Barre), and Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson).
In 2004, after a successful career as a producer and songwriter, Godfrey decided to turn to progressive rock and teamed up with Mitchell.
After two albums and two dissolutions, they returned and released Falling Satellites (2016) where they finish polishing the originality of their sound, and Day And Age was released last May.
You will always find on Frost* albums two impeccable voices alternating or adding in the songs (Godfrey and Mitchell), heavy effects applied to the vocals, fast keyboard riffs (the keys are killer in all Frost* albums), and odd signatures changing.
All that results in music that you don’t know how will continue in the following seconds, and that degree of surprise and unpredictability is absolutely catching. As an example, you’ll find on “Repeat To Fade” two-part backing vocals, Godfrey’s voice buried in reverb on “Waiting For The Lie”, keyboard riffs that fit great into the bass pedal on “Day And Age” and a combination of 4/4 verse and 5/4 chorus on “Terrestrial”.
You’ll find on “Island Life” one of the most iconic lyrics in progressive rock. Look for it, press play, and get ready for a constant surprise!
