Ex Norwegian and Friends: Sing Wistle Tunes

Roger Houdaille of neo-psychedelic pop outlet Ex Norwegian got in touch with his friends to pay tribute to the songs of John Entwistle. The Who's bassist dark sense of humour and knack for passive-aggressive putdown tracks got the back on Earth as Peter Townshend was reaching for the stars. The Ox's solo albums never sold in bucket loads, but each one of them contains a few memorable compositions. Sing Wistle Tunes shines a light of gems like Apron Strings, When I Was A Boy, and Doctor Doctor.

It is the melody that is taking centre stage on this labour of love. That's a wise choice, as it points to Entwistle arranging skills. He also played Frecch horn and piano, which allowed to break out the range of the bass. It is quite easy to label Entwistle's lyrics as a tad misogynistic, but dig a little deeper to appreciate his sense for melody. As a bass player, he was never about solely providing a basic rhythm, plus his use of tapping enabled him to become a force nature, especially when playing live.

Nick Frater: "Oh Contraire!"

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater is sounding really chipper on his new album "Oh Contraire!", serving up a full course of baroque pop that will go down well with fans of early ELO, Queen in their vaudeville guise, and that foursome from Liverpool. It pays off to be out of step with what is hip and happening and be full-on retro with wall-to-wall Mellotrons, bringing in actual people to play strings, and get Probyn Gregory to work his magic with his French horn.

Frater's knack for crafting infectious melodies has been documented extensively - he must have a secret well to drink from somewhere to be so consistent. Twelve albums in, "Oh Contraire!" is a collection of tunes that you did not know you needed, but will among your favourite albums this year or any year.

Nick Frater: I Know You Know I Know

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has unveiled a special kind of lyrics video for I Know You Know I Know, putting the limitations of Teletext to good use. The upbeat power pop song tackles the perennial subject of a man and a woman trying to engage in a conversation, with all the misunderstandings that are part of the endeavour. It is a track from his forthcoming new album Oh Contraire!

Nick Frater: "One Minute" video

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has made an AI-enhanced video for One Minute, the lead single from his forthcoming new album Oh Contraire!, keeping power pop alive and well in the 21st century.

Oh Contraire! is available for preorder here (CD, digital).

» nickfrater.com

Nick Frater: new album "Oh Contraire!" in February; stream "One Minute"

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater will release his new album Oh Contraire! via Think Like A Key on February 28, 2025. He sneaked into Abbey Road's Studio 2 to record the handclaps on his mobile phone. The power pop-infused lead single One Minute is on all the usual digital outlets.

Scott Gagner: "Never Could See Any Other Way" video

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner has made a video for Never Could See Any Other Way, a track from his new album Reverse, recorded in London at Abbey Road, Studio 2: "[It] features fellow Beatles fan Nick Frater on mellotron and pianet, instruments that have 60s written all over it".

Live date:

• 09/07 "Reverse" Album Release Party @ 318 Cafe, Excelsior, MN

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of Reverse.

Nick Frater: full band shows in London & Liverpool

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater will be performing with a full band at the Engine Room in London (April 23) and The Cavern in Liverpool (June 3 & 4). Expect plenty of songs form his latest album Aerodrome Motel: Frater positions himself as a fly-on-the-wall outsider - the soldier returning home in No Hard Feelings - a sociologist deciphering toilet graffiti in Rough & Tumble, as well as a critic of modern day society, where the debate has given way to shouting at each other from the deceptive safety of algorithm enhanced viewpoints (Dear Modern Times)

» nickfrater.com

HCTF review of Aerodrome Motel.

Nick Frater: "Stuck In My Ways" video

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has made a tongue-in-cheek video for Stuck In My Ways, mimicking an Instagram stream to take a good-natured swipe at the shallowness of social media.

It is a track from his latest album Aerodrome Motel: If you happened to run into [him] puttering around in the aisles of a supermarket, singing into his smartphone, changes are you have overheard bits and pieces of one of the songs that ended up on his new album. He loves to stack layers of instrumentation on his power-pop tinged material, but his voice comes first on this fresh batch of observations".

» nickfrater.com

HCTF review of Aerodrome Motel.

Nick Frater: Aerodrome Motel

If you happened to run into English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater puttering around in the aisles of a supermarket, singing into his smartphone, changes are you have overheard bits and pieces of one of the songs that ended up on his new album Aerodrome Motel. He loves to stack layers of instrumentation on his power-pop tinged material, but his voice comes first on this fresh batch of observations.

Frater positions himself as a fly-on-the-wall outsider - the soldier returning home in No Hard Feelings - a sociologist deciphering toilet graffiti in Rough & Tumble, as well as a critic of modern day society, where the debate has given way to shouting at each other from the deceptive safety of algorithm enhanced viewpoints (Dear Modern Times).

Nick Frater: Dancing With A Gertrude

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater is gleefully namedropping on his new single Dancing With A Gertrude, namechecking people who have left the planet like legendary producer like A Guy Called Gerald. His knack for melody is once again in full swing on this happy-sad power pop song with a candy-coloured, psychedelic twist. It is a track from his forthcoming new album Aerodrome Motel, out on August 19 via Big Stir Records. He claims to have made the accompanying video all by himself in two hours.

Big Stir Magazine Issue 6: "Is This Power Pop?" special

The folks of Californian label Big Stir Records try to come up with a definition for the music their are releasing in the new issue of Big Stir Magazine. "Is This Power Pop?" was curated by guest editors John M. Borack and S.W. Lauden. If anything they have set out to broaden the scope. Kate Sullivan makes a case for including ELO:

I get the argument that ELO belongs on the power pop spectrum. In the early eighties, they got kinda power poppy— like “Hold On Tight” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Is King.” Lynne started losing the strings, going more rockabilly, developing the sound that became his signature as a producer for George Harrison, Tom Petty, et al. It’s the sound you hear in the Traveling Wilburys. It roams a smaller musical landscape than classic- era ELO, and yeah, okay, you could call it power pop.

Nick Frater: Earworms

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has the nerve to call his new album Earworms, a bold move since that term is mostly used for songs that a listener is desperately trying to get rid off, with clunkers as The Final Countdown and We Build This City as the particularly nasty ones. Frater is an old school songsmith, sketching out the melody and adding layer upon layer to create orchestral power pop anthems. Lead single It's All Rumours sets the tone, going all out with George Harrison inspired guitar, topped off with a bit of Electric Light Orchestra bravado as the icing on the cake.

The music is smooth and complex simultaneously, thanks to the big names who helped him out. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish/Beck), Darian Sahanaja (Wondermints/Brian Wilson), Mike Randle (Love/Baby Lemonade), and Dana Countryman are fully aware that they had the opportunity to work with a musician's musician. The real bite can be found in the lyrics, with him running out of patience in What's With Your Heavy Heart?, and calling out those who claim to have found religion in Not Born Again. Earworms is filled with melodic rock that is the opposite of being schmaltzy. He offers some sound advice for the brokenhearted in How To Survive Somebody. Frater is bold even when he is tender.

Nick Frater: "It's All Rumours" video

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has made a scrolling collage video for It's All Rumours, the lead single from his forthcoming album Earworms. He went all out on this one, a power pop anthem spiced up with a bit of Electric Light Orchestra bravado as the icing on the cake.

Earworms will be released on November 19 via Big Stir Records (vinyl, CD, digital). The non-album B-side I Remain Convinced can be streamed here.

Big Stir Singles: The Yuletide Wave

If this were a normal christmas it would not be safe to go shopping without a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to shut out the sugar-coated seasonal muzak that shop owneers insist on playing. The pandemic lockdown has put a stop a stip to that, but every tv or radio program is still rife wiht the likes of Mariah Carey and Wham. It will be a relief to crank something different like the The Yuletide Wave, a collection made the folk at Big Stir Records: 25 songs from the psych power pop underground that are a joy to listen to. Sure, the blatant optimism of some of the lyrics still can be a bit too much, but at least the music itself never disappoints.

Nick Frater: "California Waits" video

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has posted a widescreen video for California Waits, a track from his latest full-length Fast & Loose: "(...) an album for people who have the patience to immerse themselves in it as a "Gesamstkunstwerk", not letting their ears be controlled by streaming services algorithms".

» nickfrater.com

HCTF review of Fast & Loose.

Nick Frater: "Let's Hear It For Love" video

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater has posted a video for Let's Hear It For Love, a track from his Fast & Loose album, out on Big Stir Records on September 19: "(...) an album for people who have the patience to immerse themselves in it as a "Gesamstkunstwerk", not letting their ears be controlled by streaming services algorithms".

» nickfrater.com

HCTF review of Fast & Loose.

Nick Frater: Fast & Loose

English multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater used elements of American power pop, West Coast harmonies, and a homegrown sense for melodic psychedelic pop on his new album Fast & Loose. He is a contended guy, who recently became a father (don't worry - no overdose of sappy songs about toddlers and such). He uses keyboards both as a lead instrument and an extra layer of percussion, plus some rock guitar to retain his street cred badge - Frater touches base with his musical heroes - That Ship Has Sailed and Would You Like To Go? have "Brian Wilson" written all over it. And there is "blink-ánd-ýou'll miss it" nod to the Olivia Newton John's over the top disco smash Xanady in Let's Hear It For Love.

Any power pop artist who is worth is salt can't escape the shadow of Alex Chilton and sure enough, he get his due with Cocaine Gurls. Frater is proudly out of sync with current mainstream trends. That is a good thing, because trend followers find themselves in the cut-out bins almost overnight when the nest fad comes along. Fast & Loose is an album for people who have the patience to immerse themselves in it as a "Gesamstkunstwerk", not letting their ears be controlled by streaming services algorithms.