The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: REUBEN AND THE DARK REVEAL SINGLE “TIMELAPSE CLOUDS” | NEW EP ‘COMING LIKE A STORM’ OUT JUNE 10 VIA ARTS & CRAFTS
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: DAMION – “COMPANY MAN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: VOODOO BLOO – “WE’RE HERE, LOVE IS SOMEWHERE ELSE”
SPILL NEWS: SKID ROW RELEASE NEW OFFICIAL FAN VIDEO FOR “THE GANG’S ALL HERE” | 2022 TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LOWELL REVEALS NEW SINGLE “GUESS I’M GOING TO HELL”
SPILL NEWS: SECOND OFFICIAL IRON MAIDEN COLOURING BOOK: THE SINGLES – AVAILABLE NOW FROM ROCK N’ ROLL COLOURING
SPILL NEWS: LIMITED EDITION REISSUE OF BEASTIE BOYS’ LONG OUT-OF-PRINT 4LP DELUXE EDITION OF THE MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUM ‘CHECK YOUR HEAD’ TO BE RELEASED JULY 15
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE CAUGHTERY – “FRAGILE”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE MARCH DIVIDE – “KING OF THE LOST CAUSE”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
SPILL NEW MUSIC: DIANA ROSS FT. TAME IMPALA RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE “TURN UP THE SUNSHINE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HOUSEWIFE SHARE BRAND NEW TRACK “PATRICK BATEMAN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: STILL EIGHTEEN – “KEEP ROCKING”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: COMING UP ROSES – “WOULD YOU EVER”
SPILL FEATURE: SONGS FROM PEOPLE ARE ALSO SONGS ABOUT PEOPLE – A CONVERSATION WITH DARI MAKSYMOVA OF 6TH CROWD
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
1
251
previous article
SPILL NEWS: POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE ANNOUNCES 2017 SHORT LIST
next article
SPILL NEWS: POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE ANNOUNCES THE 2017 SHORT LIST

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK NEEDLE NOISE – LOST IN REFLECTIONS

Black Needle Noise

Black Needle Noise
Lost In Reflections
Independent

Black Needle Noise is a project from John Fryer. If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because he has been making music, usually as a producer, since 1979.  Go to your record collection, look at the producers and you will see his name.  He has produced, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Wire, Love and Rockets and many many more. He was also the only consistent member of one of the most unique bands of the 1980’s, This Mortal Coil.  Black Needle Band is the third ‘band’ (or rather project) with which he has been involved.

Lost In Reflections is the second album by his most recent project, Black Needle Noise. The album features different vocalists on the eleven tracks on this album. Featured vocalists include Kendra Frost, Omniflux, Andrea Kerr and many more. Fryer picks vocalist who fit the style of the music. For the most part this works.  Fryer has an amazing ear.  He writes memorable melodies and brings it all together with the guests.

The album has a definite 80’s feel to it, and that is a good thing.  Fryer is not reliving past glories but rather dipping into an era and influence that suits him and the songs. The final track, “Neon Noir” featuring Dr. Strangefryer, is one of the highlights as it has an ‘80’s feel and influence but yet sounds 2017.  This is a true talent, bringing two diverse eras together.  He does this throughout the album.  Fryer knows how to arrange and produce. .

The songs do sound like an extension of This Mortal Coil, and that is not a bad thing. It is the same format as that band (and the unofficial offshoot band, The Hope Blister) and the overall tone is very similar to both bands.  Not so much a copy or a sequel but a continuation. He does paint audio landscapes, the layered sounds, the vocals and the melodies all fit together.  Each song deserves several spins to get the most out it.

The songs themselves are strong, moody, melodic, atmospheric and in some cases quite beautiful. Every track plays like a single. In other words you can take any one song off the album, and just play it as a track.  Although the album is sequenced quite nicely, the songs do not form a cohesive album that requires one to listen to it from beginning to end for best effect.  Any one song can be downloaded, so it is more of a collection of singles than an album.

There are several highlights throughout and fans of his early work with This Mortal Coil will welcome this album into their collection.

But then the same could be said for the first album from Black Needle Noise.  It is a great album full of great songs.



Artist Links

facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016 bandcamp_flat_2016 itunes_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK NEEDLE NOISE – LOST IN REFLECTIONS

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
10
7.0
Total Spill Rating
10
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsandrea kerrblack needle noisedr. strangefverjohn fryerkendra frostlost in reflectionsneon noiromnifluxswimming through dreamingthis mortal coilwarning sign
album reviews, andrea kerr, black needle noise, dr. strangefver, john fryer, kendra frost, lost in reflections, neon noir, omniflux, swimming through dreaming, this mortal coil, warning sign
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsblack needle noisejohn fryer
 
8.0
Thomas Dollbaum

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Thomas Dollbaum Wellswood Big Legal Mess “I grew up in a small town between nowhere and nothing. By reputation, people move to Florida to run away from their problems, but instead of [...]
 
8.0
Avi Caplan
7.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Avi Kaplan Floating On A Dream Fantasy Records One thing singer-songwriters can impress their potential audience with is their vocals. It can be any specific characteristic, from [...]
 
9.0
On-U Sound
6.3

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Various Artists Pay It All Back Vol. 8 On-U Sound Master producer/songwriter/artist Adrian Sherwood has been behind all things On-U Sound since 1979, and since then he and [...]
 
8.0
Say Sue Me

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Say Sue Me The Last Thing Left Damnably Sumi Choi (vocalist, guitarist) and her band Say Sue Me are from Busan, Korea. If that tells you that you would be in for some K-pop on their [...]
 
8.0
John Inghram

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
John Inghram John Inghram CD Baby John Inghram built a name for himself as a musician’s musician, particularly among artist that try to get the gist of the music that has anything [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
8.0
7.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
9.0
6.3
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM
8.0

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
699
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
461
 
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
410
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEN WITHOUT HATS – AGAIN (PART 2)
331
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
325
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
316
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
291
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
280
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZARETH – SURVIVING THE LAW
267
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VR SEX – ROUGH DIMENSION
262
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: VENUS BEMUS RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “STORMS”
251
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LUCIUS – SECOND NATURE
249
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CANNONS – FEVER DREAM
236
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES