Sun's Signature release new EP, out today on Partisan Records

Who are Sun’s Signature you may ask. Well, it’s the current project of Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) and her life and musical partner Damon Reece (Spiritualized, Massive Attack, Lupine Howl). Elizabeth needs no introduction. The unforgettable voice of the Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil’s haunting, epic cover of “Song to the Siren,” she is internationally recognized for her vocal contributions to Massive Attack’s trail-blazing Mezzanine LP - most notably their biggest hit, “Teardrop”.

Damon, the long-time drummer with political art-rock giants Massive Attack, spent the ‘90s as a member of Spiritualized and Echo and the Bunnymen. He has also recorded and performed with Baxter Dury, Goldfrapp, The Flies, Butch Vig’s 5 Billion in Diamonds, and even virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy. A highly creative drummer, Damon is also a multi-talented generator of all things musical and, furthermore, has taken charge of engineering duties for much of this EP.

The resulting EP (of the same name) is out today, to coincide with Record Store Day, and is a stunning 5-song piece, and the first new music from Fraser in 13 years, although these songs have been ruminating in the background of Elizabeth and Damon’s lives in some form for 20+ years. The music is lush, ethereal, and intricately constructed, and there is a guest appearance from Steve Hackett.

Highly evolved, yet simultaneously primal - it’s an utterly original, compelling and genre-defying collection of songs that has developed through an Alice in Wonderland journey through life and music.

Maybe, the fact that this is Frasers first new music for 13 years, and the songs are the evolution of thoughts and ideas that that have been swirling around for this time, that the result is something that reaches for that elusive perfection. So often, balancing the need to produce new music, satisfying the wants of fans, record companies, and expectations on themselves, results in great music, but compromised music. This is anything but !

The EP is simply dripping with dreamy atmospheric angelic goodness right from the off. Fraser contends that the music’s intention is “To take you on a journey – like Love’s Forever Changes”.

And it certainly delivers in bucketloads. The EP opens with Underwater (originally released some 22 years ago as a white label) and it drifts out focusing just on Fraser’s voice alone in the high register before being joined gradually by synth tones as it develops into a more orthodox framework, although as the guitars join it, it had that wonderful Genesis ‘trippy’ sensibility to it, along with the bell-like synth sounds. Some of the synth tones give it a delight, darker feel too which I loved on this track.

The next track Golden Air has a dizzy, more piano feel to it and a wonderful ambience which gives it a wonderful luxurious feel. The lyrics are beautiful and delicate, almost demure in nature. The vocals are playful, almost childlike send a tingle down the spine ! Bluedusk carries on in a similar luxurious way and feels like a film soundtrack from a fantasy epic, with a delightful muted oboe (clarinet?) tone.

Apples starts with a Spanish guitar line as the vocals drift in, over the top, at times almost Kate Bush-like in their airy, light fashion. The feel continues with the closing track Make Lovely The Day where the gorgeous guitar playing of Hackett takes the plaudits with a virtuoso performance. Guitar + vocals = simple, and breathtakingly beautiful gorgeous.

The whole EP just drifts and wafts over the listener like a dream sequence. It is an exceptional piece of work and simply delightful.

A well earned 10 from LiveWire.

Track List

1. Underwater

2. Golden Air

3. Bluedusk

4. Apples

5. Make Lovely The Day