SEASON’S END
Now in their 15th year, Frost* have earned themselves a place at the table of modern neo prog. Following the release of the 13 Winters collection, co-founding keyboardist Jem Godfrey surveys the band’s history and offers insight into their future.
Words: Nick Shilton Portraits: Will Ireland
Jem Godfrey, shot exclusively for Prog at home in November 2020.
The year was 2004 and Jem Godfrey was enjoying significant commercial success writing for pop acts including Atomic Kitten and Holly Valance. But while a string of hit singles had proved lucrative he felt stifled creatively. He approached Arena/Kino’s John Mitchell and the idea for a new progressive project called Frost* was born.
Released in 2006, Frost*’s debut, Milliontown, was a groundbreaking album. From opening instrumental romp Hyperventilate via the thrilling Black Light Machine to the extraordinary 26-minute tour de force of the closing title track, this was prog as never heard before. Indeed, given Godfrey’s abhorrence of repeating himself, it’s prog as never heard since either.
Frost*’s musical career has since encompassed two further studio albums, 2008’s knowingly titled Experiments In Mass Appeal and 2016’s Falling Satellites. Remixed and remastered versions of all three studio albums, together with two live albums, an instrumental version of Falling Satellites, last year’s Others EP and a rarities collection, make up the recently released eight-CD art book, 13 Winters.
Top left, L-R: John Mitchell, Jem Godfrey, Andy Edwards and John Jowitt in 2006.
PRESS
Left, L-R: Nathan King, Jem Godfrey, Craig Blundell, John Mitchell.
PRESS/TOM BARNES
Below: the three studio albums and EP.
“A lot of bands are very serious. We provide an antidote to the tremendous pomposity that progressive rock can suffer from. I hope that we’re the Monty Python of prog. It’s our mission statement to balance the universe.”