Mark Fry’s new album, his third for Second Language and the first in 11 years, is out now. ‘Not On The Radar’ was captured almost entirely live, mid-June 2024, at Mark’s studio in Normandy and although he has largely outgrown his ‘Dreaming With Alice’ psychedelic origins, Fry, equally acclaimed as a painter as a songwriter, still knows his way around a tune. The songs here are surely among the finest in his now considerable oeuvre. Whether it’s the touchingly ingenuous, vaguely Bill Fay-like ‘Only Love’ (a sort of ‘love song to love’) or the similarly numinous and romantic ‘Where Would I Be’ with its haunting choral coda, the aching nocturne ‘Daybreak’ or the atmospheric, piano-dappled ballads ‘Where the Water Meets the Land’ and ‘Big Red Sun’, this is timeless, personal and genuinely moving songwriting given wing by some beautifully restrained, simpatico ensemble playing. Produced by David Sheppard (Ellis Island Sound/Snow Palms) and assisted by sound engineer Ian Button (Death In Vegas), Fry’s ensemble also features guitarist Iain Ross (Barry Adamson, Laika), double bassist John Parker (Nizlopi) and keyboardist/vocalist Angèle David-Guillou (Piano Magic).
9/10 – Uncut
4/5 – Mojo
‘Not On The Radar’ is available as a 10 track CD with 8 page lyric booklet and a limited edition solid blue vinyl album with full colour inner lyric sleeve; 500 copies only. More info/listen/buy here