The prolific John Andrew Frederick continues to surprise. His newest release from his The Black Watch is the digital EP, The Neverland of Spoken Things. The three songs here further the approach of Frederick, and refine his brand of what most would call alt rock.
The opening title cut both rattles and soars, bridging a chamber pop flourish or two with an exuberant guitar solo. The selection, like so many of Frederick's, adds a dash of shoegaze to the composition unfolding petal-like before us. "Precious Little", a real gem, grinds atop a hook that's vaguely New Order-ish, even as a pedal-guitar (or something that sounds like it), purrs and carries this one forward into vaguely new territory for this band. The wonderfully-spacious "Living Backwards" closes this EP, the guitar-hooks rippling out like peak Wire Train stuff, or any number of singles from The Connells. Frederick sings this with an easy grace, the usual literate art rock of his attack this time a bit warmer and more accessible. If I had to pick a fave here, this closer might be it.
The Neverland of Spoken Things by The Black Watch is out now.
[Photo: The Black Watch]