FROZEN NORTH

This was RADIO MASSACRE INTERNATIONAL's first studio album released in 1995. It's a double with over 2 hours of amazing music. My favourite release by the band continues to be "Knutsford In May" a live release while my favourite studio album is "Bothered Atmos". By the way "Frozen North" is stuffed with mellotron.

Disc one starts off with "Wrecks" an over 20 minute track with what sounds like liquid keys early on as this spacey atmosphere flutters and flows. A fuller sound arrives after 3 minutes including mellotron which really comes to the fore 7 1/2 minutes in. It all picks up and gets louder before 9 minutes. Great sound before 11 minutes with that electronic beat and mellotron that continues to the end. "What's The Point Of Going To Crete?" has these fearful outbursts that come and go then electronics and a deep atmosphere roll in. An electronic rhythm kicks in before 2 minutes. Incredible sound after 4 minutes on this one. "Small Frozen North" sounds like the atmosphere is causing powerful waves of sound. An electronic rhythm is added around 2 minutes. "Rosemary's Baby" is very cinematic and powerful with what sounds like piano joining in. "Drown" has an eerie feel to it not surprisingly considering the title of this track. Check out the mellotron after 3 minutes, it's majestic to say the least. A change after 5 minutes with an electronic beat coming in and less atmosphere. It's building though then it settles back. It all sounds very urgent as it builds again.

Disc two features only two long tracks including the 28 1/2 minute "Frozen North I" which opens with deep sounds that echo before spacey sounds take over quickly. It's interesting hearing the sounds after 3 minutes because i'm really reminded of Holger Czukay's "Boat-Woman-Song" from 1969. This continues for about 11 minutes when it changes with different beats and spacey sounds joining forces along with mellotron. It calms down after 17 minutes then we get percussion sounds and twittering after 21 minutes. The deep sounds from early on are back as it ends much like it began. "Frozen North IV" is the over 40 minute closer. A haunting sound from the depths stands out as lighter sounds chime in and out. The mellotron choirs after 2 minutes are heavenly. It eventually settles back as sounds crash in the background while mellotron choirs come in waves. Another calm after 14 minutes as pleasant sounds ebb and flow. Haunting mellotron then another calm 19 1/2 minutes in before the electronics arrive a minute later. The mellotron is back as the electronic beat continues. After 30 minutes the sound has such a depth to it then that beat stops before 33 minutes as it turns eerie with lots of mellotron. It ends as it began.

So another winner from RMI that's full of mellotron. I wish it was shorter and there was more guitar but this is excellent to say the least.