Putting key members of two of Australia's best bands together meant that
a high level of expectation was already in place for Jack Frost's debut,
but quite happily that expectation was met with flying colors. Quite wisely,
neither Kilbey nor McLennan try to make their collaboration simply an
extension of their respective bands -- while a certain familiarity is
unavoidable, the two make a successful effort to try for something more.
Part of this derives from the working set-up for the project; McLennan
and Kilbey play just about everything themselves aside from some strings,
woodwinds, and horns, with drum machines and synths adding a consciously
technological edge to the proceedings at points. The tightly wound "Every
Hour God Sends," for instance, touches on everything from Roxy Music
at their most driving and sleek to anthemic '80s rock without the declamatory
weight, while "Thought That I Was Over You" turns into a great
lighter-waver while avoiding dumb-ass shoutalongs, a rare trick indeed!
For the most part, though, Jack Frost is calmer, more relaxed, though
there are moments of excellent drama ("Providence," with a slowly
intensifying but never explosive build of instruments, drums sounding
like martial calls over the hell, is a major winner). The two singers
trade off parts throughout the songs, sometimes taking lead versus backing
vocals, something breaking things down into verse and chorus responsibilities.
There's even a bit of light French pop influence, as the gently jazzy
"Geneva 4 a.m." shows, Kilbey's world-weary lead nicely offset
by McLennan's soft but impassioned singing on the chorus. With plenty
of lovely individual touches like McLennan's spoken-word delivery of "Trapeze
Boy," a gentle bed of plucked strings and electric guitar supporting
the brief, heartfelt story, Jack Frost as a whole makes for a worthy listen
on its own merits instead of simply those of its creators' other work.
(by Ned Raggett, All
Music Guide)
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