Frazer Spooner

          Hailing from Sheffield, England, Frazer Spooner trades in his metal background for a more indie-folk styled sound compounded by descriptive, storytelling lyrics.  Having played music from a young age, Spooner now strives to attain a working ability play a great multitude of instruments, so that he can record his own music independently.  Yes, that's right, he records every instrument and the vocals entirely by himself, thus granting his music an affinity for the complex layering that comes from long hours in the studio trying to figure out how a violin or mandolin can fit into mix.  Having released his first full-length project Only After Dark: A Short Story, I can't help but find myself excitedly waiting for the next.

          One song that stands out in particular on the LP is "A Clockwork Orange".  Starting out with a modest acoustic rhythm guitar, the song quickly comes into its own as Spooner begins the first verse. His unique and powerful voice fills his story-like lyrics with a sense of truth that the listener can immediately connect with.  Lines like "And I have grown to be so insecure, impatient to new ideas..." is so intimate and self-revealing that it is hard not to be sucked into the tale being spun.  This story is furthered by the creative use of major and minor tones that accent certain lyrics and keep the listener engaged.  Spooner also shows off his multi-instrumentalist skills in his occasional addition of a bass lick flair or a steady drum fill.  The song's reverb-saturated acoustic guitar solo stands out amidst a mix that has slowly been inching towards more chaotic (in accordance with the progression of the story).  A brief, yet interesting drum solo finishes the song and seaways into the next chapter.

          A song that gives us a different perspective of Spooner's varied influences is "Give My Life Away".  An arpeggiated jazz progression begins the track, followed by a high-twanged, tremolo-tinged chord.  Then, Spooner's voice seems to come from a vacuum and echoes above the mix as he speaks of being with someone and the indefiniteness of their future.  The jazz influence is melded with a more traditional rock sound, yielding sonically diverse instrumentation.  Bells add yet another layer to the complex mix and the song fades out on a vibrating plane of music, punctuated by the the phrase "I would give my life away".

          Frazer Spooner combines his vast musical experience and influences to create a differentiated body of work.  His honest lyrics, as sung by his expressive voice, strike at the  listener's emotions and bring his music to life.  Listen to his music on BandCamp and SoundCloud.  Also be sure to check him out on Facebook.  I can't wait to hear what new music will come from this incredibly talented individual in the years to come.


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