Artists

photography by
Hannah Grace Deller

Roddy Frame is without question one of the greatest songwriters Britain has ever produced. His first album, High Land Hard Rain, was released in 1983 under his Aztec Camera 'nom de plume' through Glasgow's Postcard Records together with Rough Trade; two names inextricably linked with the birth of the independent movement.

There followed a long career on WEA Records, Warner Bros.' UK arm, which yielded five more albums and hit singles such as "Somewhere in My Heart", "How Men Are", "Good Morning Britain" etc., before a change of label and a change of 'name' led to Roddy Frame's debut solo album "The North Star", on Independiente, in 1998.

Enough history. After a brief sabbatical Roddy returned in August 2002 with Redemption's debut artist album, "SURF", before embarking on a series of one-man acoustic shows, all over the UK & Eire.

"Surf" saw Roddy return unashamedly to the values which brought him into this business in the first place. Eleven heartfelt songs written and recorded at his London home resulted in one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year.

Here's a summary of what they said……….

MOJO
One man, one voice, one hell of a record!

UNCUT **** A masterful all-acoustic collection of gently intelligent songs, which should be compulsory listening for all those earnest young men trying to be the new David Gray. Simply a reminder that one of Britain's finest songwriters is still on quietly magnificent form.

DAILY MAIL ****
Surf finds the former Aztec Camera singer at his plaintive best. Roddy is firmly back in the frame.

NME
A songwriter's masterclass. Surf is Frame's most complete album in 20 years. 8/10.

Q ***
Simplicity is the key, displaying Frame's deft hand with a lyric and mastery of direct songwriting…..Best of all is Frame's now beautifully mature voice…..he's rarely been better.

THE SCOTSMAN
The Boy Wonder matures. He's made his finest record. Surf already sounds like a classic.

MAXIM ***
It's taken him nearly 20 years to deliver a worthy follow-up (to High land Hard Rain), but on the strength of this creative rebirth, it was worth the wait.

DAILY TELEGRAPH
Surf: It really is very good indeed.

OBSERVER
Surf is… wonderfully understated…one of his best records.

GUARDIAN ***

INDEPENDENT
Surf is ultimately a tough album to make your own, unless you're similarly stricken with melancholy… That's when you know you've been framed.

ANDREW MUELLER/AMAZON
One of the trademark delights of Aztec Camera albums was the solo acoustic vignette that closed them and Surf is basically a complete album of such tracks!

TIME OUT
Something powerful and empowering….a tangible sense of kiss and whisper, tenderness, tears and truth. Quietly assertive, undeniably impressive.

2003 will see Roddy performing acoustically at Glastonbury for the first time, and headlining the Radio 2 tent at the Cambridge Festival.

*Two songs available for download otherwise available exclusively on the Japanese edition of "Surf"
*Crossing Newbury Street
*Your Smile Stops the Hands of Time

Small World (the theme of the BBC's hit comedy series "Early Doors")
click for audio stream

For more information, please go to the excellent:
www.killermontstreet.com