Fraser - A Garden At The Top Of The Tree (Album Review)
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Written by Adam Simpson
Fraser are an indie-folk group, based in London. The 4 piece were created by front man Fraser Gregory. Fraser is Scottish born but was raised in Malta, he was the founding member of his last band The Beangrowers (Rough Trade), however the band went their separate ways, a solo career followed, touring Europe and the States, before setting his routes in London and forming the group Fraser, with musicians Stuart Davenport, Josh Bergson and Nick Winters.
The group gigged the London circuit last summer and were soon recruited to support Queen Keyboardist Spike Edney and his All Star Band, in December on his sold out tour.
This debut album A Garden At The Top Of The Tree, which was released on the 15th March, was produced by David Vella at Temple Studios who has previously worked with the likes of Phillip Boa and The Voodoo Club and mastered by Frank Archwright of Metropolis Studios, who has worked with Radiohead, Damien Rice and The Kooks.
It is a lovely, gentle, laid back record, with a good variation between tracks which will duly appeal to a broad audience. The lead single, Lay It On The Line was released on the 25th January and was well supported by several radio DJ’s including Steve Lemacq, John Kennedy, Tom Robinson and Jim Gellaty.
Release Me is the first track on the record, the heavy drumming and huge swooping guitar hooks that start the song set a nice heavy tone, which the track carries through to its finish. The bass notes warm the vocals in between the riffs and turn this track into a brilliant anthem. The lyrics are simple and the vocals lovely. Fraser Gregory has an excellent vocal range and uses this track to display that especially as the track falls midway through into a softer section, before picking itself up and rocking again. It is catchy and definitely shows Fraser at their best.
Find Love is much gentler, softer guitar strings and bass, the drumming from Nick Winters as still up front and loud all though the pace is dropped. The track has a more folk feel and Fraser Gegory’s crooning voice and Stuart Davenport’s guitar picks enhance the folk feel to this song, along with the injection of harmonica playing. It is a laid back, gentle record for the summer and immediately shows that Fraser are not a one trick pony.
Lay It On The Line is the first track from the album, which the group selected for release as a single and its pop sensibilities and catchy rhythm show why. Metallic guitar rasps and swooping hooks are catchy and the frantic paced drumming truly infectious, couple this with Fraser Gregory’s outstanding vocals and nice lyrics and you have an excellent track which justifies the attention it gained.
Laughter (Everyday) is a very dark and depressing track, the steady drums and simple acoustic guitar lay the sombre mood of the track along with the use of violins. The vocals are emotion filled and equally as moody. Each chorus picks the track up a little before the mood again falls; setting a pattern of contradiction and diversity that makes this a very clever track. Not the best on the record, but certainly one which is constructed well.
Let It Rain is a folk track destined for summer play. Simple percussion and scratchy acoustic guitar over keyboards behind each verse lay a gentle platform, at each chorus the track is transformed into a definite folk track with the guitar picking and almost unplugged genuine sound to Fraser Gregory’s soft vocals. It is very simple and catchy and there is a genuine warmth.
Old Tree is dark and sombre. The plodding high bass from Josh Bergson and echoed electric guitar strings produce an atmospheric feel which is lifted slightly at each chorus by the drumming and background violins. Fraser Gregory’s lyrics and vocals are incredible and catching the emotion of the track. The crack in his voice during each high section shows a real strain and emotion in his voice and also diversity in his ability and indeed the rest of the group.
There Is A Forest is another catchy, summery track. Laid back with fantastic warmth in the instruments, particularly the bass which is deep and warm. Stuart’s acoustic guitar is very simple and sets the laid back tone brilliantly along with the steady rhythm of the drums. The vocals are nice and soft. This track is another pop song which is impossible not to like. The track raises the tempo and volume for a section mid way which breaks up any chance of monotony with the steady rhythm and gives the instruments, particularly Nick Winters’ drums the chance to really come to life.
Bouboulina Sunshine is a very, very good track, in fact initially you wonder if you are listening to The Beatles, such is the comparison, whether producing a sound that close to another artist is a good thing or not I do not know, however I already know that Fraser are very much capable of making their own sound enough to ignore this and enjoy this lovely rock and roll track. Stuart Davenport’s guitar riffs are brilliant throughout the track and the drumming sets a wonderful toe tapping rhythm. The track is genuine, simple and incredibly addictive.
Lie For Truth takes the group back to their moody best, Fraser Gregory has a fantastic ability at changing his vocal ranges to suit the feel of the track and share with the listener the emotions he feels. The drumming is very nice Nick’s fast paced skin bashing lifts the track just enough as the vocals and Stuart’s guitar plays sombrely and creates the atmosphere needed. The production on this track also helps set the feeling required, with synthed keyboards used in places to create a distance and sombre atmosphere brilliantly.
Always Only You is the most produced track on the album, with the intro filled with synthed keyboards, strange sampling and drum machine beats. Fraser Gregory sings over these with a strange, high voice, full of effects. The guitar picks and bass notes which come in later are also heavily effected with lots of echo added. This track is an experimentation with production and takes the group down a completely different road. It is an electronic track, which is nowhere near the groups indie-folk roots, nor is it the group at their best, but I do like their willingness to mix things up and play with production techniques.
A Garden At The Top Of The Tree is a very good debut album, with lots of diversity and a track to suit most tastes, giving the group a real chance of mainstream appeal. They maintain their folk roots through a lot of the tracks whilst also displaying their effectiveness when playing rock and roll and heavy indie. The production is brilliant and achieves, along with the very well played instruments and vocal range of Fraser Gregory an emotive album which creates the necessary backdrop to make the lyrics work.
STEREOBOARD RATING 7/10
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Lay It On The Line is the first track from the album, which the group selected for release as a single and its pop sensibilities and catchy rhythm show why. Metallic guitar rasps and swooping hooks are catchy and the frantic paced drumming truly infectious, couple this with Fraser Gregory’s outstanding vocals and nice lyrics and you have an excellent track which justifies the attention it gained.
