Outside Looking In

Simon Fagan is a classically-schooled composer and a trumpeter of note. He doesn’t let his obvious muso credentials get in the way of penning and recording quality pop songs that are instantly accessible but which stand up to repeated listens.
‘Damn Honey’ is a powerful track with American-style big production and an infectious chorus made for karaoke nights, while ‘Plastic Compass’ has elements of both The Bee Gees and Springsteen. ‘Never Really Cried’ builds quickly from a languorous start to power ballad level, with brash horns, warm strings, layers of vocals and a catchy chorus. ‘Won’t Let Go’ is workmanlike album filler, but the country-tinged harmonies that open ‘Water’s Edge’ are truly mouth-watering. ‘Love Don’t Work’ has a subtlety missing elsewhere on the album and proves that Fagan can deliver without being in your face. His vocal performances never fake emotion, nor are his undoubted musical skills used for mere grandstanding. An accomplished record..