‘Call Out a Rescue’ features a growling bassline, controlled falsetto vocals and bright picked arpeggios on a bed of guitar ambience. Simon’s years of engineering and production abilities have allowed him to create huge-sounding mixes, and this track in particular is an epic rock production. The guitar overdubs all inhabit their own space in the mix, and the result never sounds too busy.

‘Miles Away’ opens with a barrage of organ and driving guitars not unlike The Charlatans, before evolving into melodic harmonized jangly guitar pop in the vein of That Petrol Emotion or The LAs. The shimmering tremelo guitar is a particularly nice touch. This is an obvious choice for a single, and would live comfortably in a modern radio playlist alongside Franz Ferdinand, The Zutons, The Killers and others of their ilk who are currently reinvigorating the charts with guitar pop that draws it‘s inspiration from the previous generation. 

‘Killing the Very Thing’ sounds like Keane at their best. It’s a simple ballad that showcases Simon’s songwriting abilities:
“Has it all been a waste?
I thought it was something sweet
But you couldn’t taste
So you tried to play safe
By killing the very thing that gave you grace”

“For All the Time” and ‘Fortune’s Way’ also merit a mention as standout songs on this 10 track collection. 

The material strikes a good balance between high production standards and the indie ethic. For what‘s nominally an American album, this is a very British sounding production. The vocals are to the fore and the rhythm guitar tracks are not smothered by over-ornate riffing or effects. The result is that the songs are given the space they need and succeed or fail on their own merits. The album is that oddest of creatures - a grower. I must admit I wasn‘t particularly taken by it on first listen, but the time I invested in this album has paid dividends, and I can see myself dipping into it again in the future
                            Read more...
                        

                            
British musician/producer Simon Widdowson has had a very busy decade. After years of touring extensively, all the while pumping up his writing/performing chops, he dropped anchor in Portland long enough to establish the successful recording studio Are You Listening? These duties introduced him to bassist Kelly Simmons, King Black Acid drummer Jason Bedard, and Everclear keyboardist James Beaton, which in turn birthed the new band Sweeper. And that, Virginia, is how musical greatness is born. 
The delightful fruition of Widdowson’s journey is Frame, ten original tunes of straightforward simplicity. A quality I greatly respect, it is born out of confidence, probably the payoff of the dues-paying decade. These songs are uncomplicated but not plain. They are poignant but not manipulative. Intelligent but not snotty. Widdowson’s warm voice lends itself to this approach, creating an atmosphere of intimacy for his exploration-focused lyrics. 
Opening rocker “Fortune’s Way” gets right to it, pondering life’s choices and ramifications from within a fuzz guitar forest. By the time you get to the layered “Miles Away,” you’re picking up on the subtle British influence, and yet Sweeper really doesn’t sound like anyone else in particular, which is good. Their sound is their own, a very clean production style, some trippy reverb, solid guitar work. “Unaware” and “Don’t Say It Isn’t So," both pretty, do a little bending of both notes and mind. Pay attention. 
Frame only gets better with each track. Widdowson wraps his warm vocals around the pop piece “For All the Time” in a perfect fit, and “Coming Out Wrong” throbs with frenetic sincerity. The standout track has to be the achingly beautiful “Killing the Very Thing.” Widdowson’s voice was created for ballads, and this one sparkles with a sweet intensity, each stroke of the brush a caress. These songs are just so easy to fall into, with their warm accessibility, their thoughtful lyrics and the impeccable production. Widdowson is a great talent; I can’t wait to see what he does with this decade
                            Read more...