MARK FRY - NOT ON THE RADAR (THE DEMOS)

Available on Second Language (digital) /  Norman Records (limited vinyl)

Demo versions of final release tracks have become a cottage industry of late, particularly with bonus discs accompanying archival reissues. Fry does them one better by releasing his demos for his wonderful album from May, which we enthusiastically reviewed. These early versions give us a glimpse into the songwriter’s craft, a window into the creative process as Fry works through potential melodies, lyrics, and arrangements. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar (with an occasional piano or tambourine tinkle), there is an inherent intimate feel to these rough blueprints that would be coloured in with drums, keyboards, percussion, bass and additional guitars on the final product.

     The sequence matches the released album so you can A/B to your heart’s content, but right from the start I hear a more relaxed vocal and easygoing fingerpicking on ‘Only Love’ and the lilting sway of ‘Big Red Sun’ feels a bit faster, although Angèle David-Guillou’s piano fills and Iain Ross’s guitar solo enhance the atmosphere on the final product. I think ‘Stormy Sunday’ benefits from dropping the spoken word bits (from a radio transmission in the background?) in the completed track, although Fry’s off-mic comment about “hanging on to your hat” does add to the laidback vibe. [I don’t speak French, but perhaps those “transmissions” on the released version were off-air recordings of an actual Normandy weather forecast?)

     ‘Where The Water Meets The Land’, a personal highlight of the album is about a minute shorter, but I believe it was this WIP version that convinced the filmmakers of a recent documentary on Fry’s career to select it as their title. I do miss David Sheppard’s percussive “crashing waves”, but that’s an example of how a blueprint can be enhanced once the full band are gathered together to improvise subtle enhancements. Conversely, the title track is a full minute-and-a-half longer here and, stripped of its rumbling drum backing, sound effects, and Fry’s more forceful, almost funky vocal is dreamier than what you’ll hear on the final edit.

     I may have missed it first time around, but I sense a bit of a nod to Dylan’s ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ hovering over ‘Daybreak’ and this barely-whispered early take is even more emotional and melancholic than what eventually made the final cut, even if that version actually feels slower and more resolved to the destitute resignation of “life’s heartaches.” ‘Where Would I Be’ still boasts a wonderful lullaby melody akin to John Prine’s similar compositions, and the Cohenesque ‘Jamais Á L’Heure’ is still as sweet a love song you’re likely to hear for a very long time. I’m so entranced, I have to admit the final album version could have omitted the spoken-word introduction, which added an unsettling diversion. ‘Rainbow Days’ loses its piano accompaniment and Fry’s later spoken verses are sung in this demo take which I prefer. There was always the sense that the album version was an aborted take that needed a little more work. Now we have that to enjoy.

     Overall, there’s a heartwarming atmosphere of a personal front-room concert with Fry playing his latest creations for you and a small circle of friends. A conversational vocal shines through, perhaps a more relaxed Fry without having to think about his fellow musicians in the room waiting for their parts to come around? And I should also note that these are all “clean” takes - no stumbling over missed notes, forgotten lyrics, or “let’s start again”s. As such, I can assure you that this is as strong an album as the final release and could easily have stood on its own if released “as-is” in their stead.

     Fans of Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Jackie Leven, even Everything But The Girl will immediately warm to its many charms. And while, admittedly, there are bits of each that you’ll probably prefer…an addition here, a subtraction there, the songs are so beautiful, adorned in romantic, poetic lyrics that two versions actually are better than one! Plus, there’s the added bonus track in the digital-only download ‘Parallel Moon,’ a rather upbeat head nodder and toe tapper with quite the Dylanesque groove (and lyric!). I hope Fry has a few more of these gems ready for the next album!

Jeff Penczak