Title - ‘Seven Dials’ (AED Records)
Artist - Roddy Frame
Seven Dials is the fourth solo-album by Roddy Frame, former front-man of Aztec Camera, one of the better Scottish new wave and pop bands from the 80's, which had international hits like 'Oblivious,' 'Walk Out To Winter' and 'Somewhere In My Heart.'
In 1998, Frame released his first solo album, The North Star and followed that up in 2006 with Western Skies. Here in 2014, Frame finally brings us a brand new solo album, the aforementioned Seven Dials.
The first song, ‘White Pony’ is a truly delightful opening track and immediately shows us that Roddy’s vocals have grown, matured since 2006’s Western Skies. Indeed, this fourth solo album is upbeat, insightful, and educational. The ten track album continues on with ‘Postcard,’ a homage to the sparkling waters, blue skies and sunny haze of California, before we get the flowing ‘Into The Sun.’
The quietly reflective ‘Rear View Mirror’ is next, and is backed by both the equally thoughtful ‘In Orbit’ and then the Aztec Cameraesque ‘Forty Days Of Rain.’ The beautiful, seamless ‘English Garden’ is next and boy, is it one of the true highlights of this wonderful new album. The album is then brought to a close with the gentle pop bounce of ‘On The Waves,’ ‘The Other Side’ and then finally the stunningly acoustic ‘From A Train.’
Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk
www.RoddyFrame.com