Prolific is a funny word. It can connote sheer volume but I prefer the more nuanced descriptor of “focused.” To put John Andrew Frederick and more specifically The Black Watch into the same category as someone like Robert Pollard is bold – but the comparison is accurate. While Dayton’s hometown son may have released 30+ albums with Guided By Voices in many different configurations and survived multiple breakups/revivals, Mr. Frederick adds books and film criticism to his repertoire. I am sure Mr. Pollard can hold forth on movies – but comic graphic novels and early Wes Anderson movies signal something…else.

Since the 1980s, John Andrew Frederick has been releasing music under the name The Black Watch with a semi-consistent lineup of supporting players. His latest release – The Neverland of Spoken Things EP is a three song soundtrack to a movie yet to be filmed. 

The three songs here are consistent in their style and feel: with a dreamy, lofi and almost shoegaze quality to them. If one is making records in their house in these Covid times, is it truly shoegaze or more likely “slippergaze?” In any case, there is a modern C86 sensibility to the three tracks here – an inward looking yet outward dreaming groove. 

The title track jumps right in with a stick count to drums with a persistent ride cymbal and arpeggiated guitar with fuzz guitar laid on top like a blanket. Singing to (or about) his own Wendy Darling, our protagonist wonders if there was a time before Neverland and if he made a mistake flying her there. With verses sung at the bottom of his register, the choruses accompanied by breathy female backing vocals are delightfully twee. The synthesized Baroque trumpet following the choruses is a nice touch – the choruses bring to mind Neko Case-era New Pornographers and in a very good way.