Aerodrome Motel. Nick Frater

Listening to Aerodrome Motel is like stepping into your favourite record shop where they play one song after another of your favourite bands, that you do not recognise, only to find out it is the new album of a Croydon, U.K. artist called Nick Frater.

This is the best compliment I can give to Aerodrome Motel. From the best albums on Dutch Excelsior Recordings label, to pop songs of old from the U.K., to Big Star and all the bands that followed it after 1972, while finally The Beatles come within earshot.

Aerodrome Motel is Nick Frater's 10th album, but his first on WoNoBlog. Listening to the album, this might be some major omission going on. The most important thing is he's on the blog today, with an album that is a joy to listen to. The songs on Aerodrome Motel simply tickle a lot of my fancies without ever giving me the impression that I've heard it all before. There's too much joy and positive musicianship in the individual songs.

Promo photo

Right from the start the album tickles, with a poppy song that certainly has a touch of Steely Dan in the the way the chords change and the piano is played and then add decades of U.S. and U.K. pop influences from dozens of bands and there's even a mild Zappa sequence. Only in describing the song this way, I can come close to write down what I'm hearing during 'The Pleasure Is Mine'. Mr. Frater, the feeling is fully mutual, I can assure you.

Aerodrome Motel holds ten songs. I could do the same for each one like I've just did for 'The Pleasure Is Mine'. I'm not going to, which makes this a fairly short review. This album does not need more words, as I've wrote all you need to know. Except having to add that there are some nice textual references worked into lyrics as well.

Aerodrome Motel is a fine pop listening experience in which Nick Frater presents his listeners with everything he has to offer. Each song is perfectly worked out and every avenue and byway of them explored to find that extra melody and harmony. It's all there and more it seems. Beyond the call of duty they call that in the military. It fits here as well.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Aerodrome Motel here:

https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/aerodrome-motel