Album Notes

April 2007 marked the first public release by Australian folk singer-songwriter Jay Fraser, an album of songs entitled 'Losing Home'. The songs have been recorded as they are played and as they were written - naked and acoustic, rich with emotion and lyrical depth. The album embarks on a raw journey of losing home and in doing so maybe finding it, in the places it can be lost or found, including in our heads & in our beds.

Having enjoyed both local & international attention for his unique and heartfelt songwriting he was a finalist in both the 2006 & 2007 Tasmanian Folk Federation Songwriting Competition, winning the People's Choice award in 2007. His song 'Falsely Accused' was selected to feature on Neil Young's Living With War Songs Page.

Hitting the live scene with his energetic and passionate performances in mid 2005, his resume has grown from acoustic singer-songwriter evenings to performing at international festivals hosted in his home state including the Cygnet Folk Festival, Tamar Valley Folk Festival, Taste of Tasmania and the Antarctic Mid-Winter Festival on Hobart's waterfront.

In 2006 his passion led him far and wide to the Hollywood of country music, Nashville Tennessee, to play several well-received shows, including a spirited performance at the World famous Bluebird Cafe.

He had the honour of supporting internationally acclaimed folk artist Minna Raskinen of Finland and the legendary Dick Gaughan of Scotland.

In mid 2007, he ventured to the UK for a string of shows throughout England and Scotland including the Filey Folk Festival and Cottingham Springboard Festival with a live set and interview on BBC Radio.



"As soon as I heard the very first notes of the very first song on Jay Fraser's album Losing Home my heart started beating faster and I got giddishly excited. A little harmonica and some bluesy acoustic and I was getting a Soggy Bottom Boy's al-la Oh Brother Where Art Thou? vibe! This is the stuff I love going out to see live and here I am listening to a CD getting that same feeling and rush... Song number one 'About Woman Blues' was a hit!"
- Naked Dwarf, August 07. Review by jacinta84melb
www.thedwarf.com.au



"This is the debut recording from Tasmanian troubadour Jay Fraser, a
collection of his own songs performed al fresco, alone with his
acoustic guitar and the odd toot of harmonica. There are plenty of
gorgeous moments on this album, simple love songs and honest memos from
the heart, with melodic vocals both strong and sweet, and guitar
delivered with plenty of feel. The production quality is crystal
clear, lending a sunny sparkle to Jay’s uncomplicated fingerpicking and
strumming style, and the songs are delivered with true innocence and
sincerity, a rare commodity among many nu-folkies.

While Jay’s compositions are simple there are some clever quirks that
move it out of the standard three chord arena and demonstrate care in
his songwriting. The album kicks straight into ‘About Woman Blues’, a
full-tilt country blues a la vintage Dylan, with plenty of harmonica
hoot and some fine mandolin contributed by Pete Hicks. In many of the
songs there are tender hints of Simon & Garfunkel or even James Taylor,
while in ‘Small Steps’ Jay goes a bit momentarily Nick Cave (!) with a
dark growl through the verse before soaring into his characteristic
falsetto for the chorus. ‘Man Of Goodwill’ is a rousing and
heartwarming folky tribute to a mentor friend, and ‘Falsely Accused’ a
call to freedom for “the desolate and the aimless men”. ‘Ballad Of
Dechlan’ is particularly beautiful & poignant.

This is a really interesting first effort from this developing
songwriter, with quite a variety (17 songs!) and a dedication to his
craft that is obviously sincere. The overall tone of the collection is
summery and guileless, a lovely and slightly eccentric acoustic album."

- Bradfield Dumpleton 2008