SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENJAMIN RUSSELL AND GREG FRASER – GHOST PARTICLES (MESSAGES FROM RUDE VAN STEENES)

BENJAMIN RUSSELL AND GREG FRASER
GHOST PARTICLES (MESSAGES FROM RUDE VAN STEENES)
TCBE RECORDS

This EP began life as a collaboration between Greg Fraser and Rude Van Steenes who sadly passed away before the project was complete. With complete consent from his widow Michele, Fraser enlisted the help of Benjamin Russell to bring the project to completion. Russell set Van Steenes lyrics/poetry to Fraser’s music and wrote the melodies for the songs. The result is a very moving and brilliant EP, Ghost Particles (Messages From Rude Van Steenes).

Ghost Particles (Messages From Rude Van Steenes) has its roots deep into the sound of the 1980s, both in music and production. But Fraser and Russell still make the music sound current and vibrant. All four songs are very strong and are extremely well produced and it sounds phenomenal. Russell has been extremely busy these days, with his own album (Pleasure Center) and other projects. But he does not show any signs of exhaustion or lack of energy for this project. His vocals are strong and he always comes up with great melodies. Fraser’s music is stellar and atmospheric. The blend of the two is perfect.

“Rain Collapsing” for an example, is a sparse, somewhat dark song that layers sounds to make a brilliant backing for Russell. The result is a moving song with fantastic violin peeking in at the end of the track to add melancholy and mood. Whereas, the opening track, “Sirens Calling” is more of a straight-ahead electronic pop song. It is full of energy and could easily be remixed for clubs. The EP ends with the cinematic “Find The Light”. It is a great way to end the EP, finding hope in the darkness, which sums up the EP.

Van Steenes lyrics are the star of the show. He wrote poetry, which has been set to music. From the song “The Stranger Within”, the lyrics read “In the circle of the sacred eye we stand inside the place where spirits ride. Embrace the darkness of the stranger within”. These are wonderful and sad flowing words. But again, it is the combination of all parts that bring this EP into completion and focus.

When projects are completed after an artist passes away it is far too easy to read into the lyrics and draw conclusions. Some may be justified, but really this is an EP that is meant to be listened to and enjoyed, and brings to light a very talented writer. Fraser and Russell have done a fantastic job with the material and they are able to present it as a complete project. While Ghost Particles (Messages From Rude Van Steenes) is a beautiful and wonderful tribute to a talented artist, it is also a fantastic EP.

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