Legendary producer John Fryer releases Black Needle Noise single with Mimi Page - A Song Reviewed by SongBlog

Legendary producer John Fryer, one of the most innovative sonic architects on the music scene, is releasing new music under his new project Black Needle Noise, dubbed “the spiritual successor to This Mortal Coil” by Cold War Night Life. Best known for his production work, he also branched out as a musician as one of only two constant members of This Mortal Coil (along with Ivo Watts-Russell), providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, The Hope Blister.

In 1979, John Fryer started his career at London’s Blackwing Studios (London) and soon began working with seminal bands on the 4AD, Mute, Rough Trade and Beggars Banquet record labels, including Depeche Mode, The Wolfgang Pressand Cocteau Twins. His achievement in helping develop the latter’s pioneering ethereal and ambient sound ultimately led Watts-Russell to recruit Fryer as his partner for This Mortal Coil.

The latest Black Needle Noise single ‘Swimming Through Dreams’ features renowned ethereal vocalist Mimi Page, who recently co-wrote and contributed vocals and programming on four tracks from Delirium’s 15th studio album 'Mythologie', which debuted at #7 on Billboard's Electronic charts. Based in Los Angeles, she is also a singer-songwriter and composer of cinematic dream worlds.

This is a hypnotic ethereal track with swirling echoed croons, layered over a bed of textured dreamy electronica.

<a href="http://blackneedlenoise.bandcamp.com/track/swimming-through-dreams">Swimming Through Dreams by Black Needle Noise with Mimi Page</a>John Fryer and Mimi met through the album listening party for Delirium last September. After learning that she is a huge This Mortal Coil fan, the two undertook to collaborate. “We wanted to capture a very atmospheric dreamy sound and I think we did that. It was a great pleasure working with her as with all the vocalists on Black Needle Noise."

Black Needle Noise creates the virtual soundtrack to movies you haven’t dreamt of yet, presenting musical soundscapes, audio alchemy, and sonic sculptures with film noir blues overtones. Nobody should be surprised by the fact that this music brings to mind artists ranging from Cocteau Twins to Nine Inch Nails, both of whom he has produced.

“Black Needle Noise takes you to a whole new level of shinier, richer, darker noise pop. This project will just keep growing and growing – there are no rules or boundaries for it. The music will be whatever it will be – whatever comes out of me. It can go in any direction it wants. As long as I keep going, it will keep going”, explains John Fryer. The project has been low key since commencing last year.

“I was going to release the first track ‘Bang Bang’ on my birthday (January 11), but that very morning it was announced Bowie had died, so it kind of knocked me sideways that day”. Long-time fans of John Fryer’s musical output will be drawn to his trademark sound, and new listeners will love the layered richness, experimental tones, effects and melodies.

Informed by decades of sound-crafting, the advent of Black Needle Noise marks Fryer’s continuous and ever-evolving move into the future.

Keep up with Black Needle Noise / John Fryer

Keep up with Mimi Page