Written by: Michael Mitchell
John Fryer should be a household name.
As a producer he is second to none. His name will be synonymous with Phil Spector, Martin Hannett and George Martin one day. He was half of the genius behind record label 4AD’s brilliant amalgam This Mortal Coil. His hands have boosted the likes of Fad Gadget, The Cocteau Twins, Clan of Xymox, Depeche Mode, Love & Rockets, Wire, Nine Inch Nails, HIM, Cradle of Filth and on and on. Now he is striking out with his own assemblage called Black Needle Noise. Releasing songs through his Bandcamp page, he has been collaborating with a rotating cast including Jarboe (Swans), Bill Leeb (Front Line Assembly) and Elena Alice Fossi (Kirlian Camera).
BNN is a concept where there are, “no rules” according to John. His Facebook page says, “Black Needle Noise is made for the modern listener, the streaming listener, I make the music, give it to a singer to sing, get the vocals back, mix it and release it. I release songs when I want and as often as I want.”
I don’t like to place my own speculation into what I write but I think this visionary concept will soon become model for many an artist.
“Upside Down” is the latest track from the BNN machine. Beca is a singer based in Los Angeles and who’s voice is a perfect fit for this track. The gritty synth and low end run in contrast to the sweetness of her voice. One who is in the know can’t help but notice there seems to be some reference to the Netflix hit series “Stranger Things” when she coos, “we live in the upside down, wrong side of downtown, will you be my escape , we live in the upside down, wrong side of downtown, baby got to be brave”.
It’s infectious groove should lend it to many a dance floor, no matter what genre of music they play. The crossover potential is huge not just in the clubs but radio as well. Hopefully people will catch on to this and then dig back through the massive library he has started to cultivate with this project.
BNN Bandcamp page: https://blackneedlenoise.bandcamp.com/
BNN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackNeedleNoise/
BNN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black_needle_noise/?hl=en
BNN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTC_bNQDfUviTBDiBHYAiSg/videos
BNN on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/black-needle-noise/id1099439451
John Fryer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/John.Fryer.Official
John Fryer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnfryer666