Album Review: Tape Deck Heart - Frank Turner

The name Frank Turner is now a recognisable brand name. Formally, a musician loved a lot but by a few, has earned wide-ranging recognition. In 2012 alone, he became known as a friend of Billy Bragg, for headlining Wembley Arena, and perhaps most significantly, for playing at the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Where do you go from there, now 2013 has well and truly begun? How do you beat that? Creating an album to mark the next significant step in your career, seems the most logical way forward, but can Tape Deck Heart stand up to the high standards Turner has already set himself? These previous achievements have ensured that more people than ever have been glued to his career, watching and waiting to hear what will happen next. 

Encouraging and attracting a fan-base who are, more often than not, truthful and outspoken, means that opinions of the album are unlikely to be sugar-coated. Notably, a philosophy that has been interwoven into Frank’s lyrics consistently. Writing a review for this album, about an artist whose music I greatly admire, and ensuring I’m being consistently honest, has proved to be a difficult task. Yet somehow, it seems the only thing to do.

The album begins with Recovery – catchy, poppy, appealing to the masses and a far cry from folk music. A song that immediately establishes the thoughtful, candid theme of the record. It expresses a need for personal self-improvement, and the effect encountering problems in your life can have. Something that has been consistent throughout Turner’s career, which has not been left out of this record, is his ability to create songs that connect with the listener. Losing Days discusses the feeling of days disappearing, and time flying away from you. It’s a subject few would think to form a song around - this ability to discuss the rarely discussed is what makes his music particularly memorable. 

Four Simple Words is a welcome break amongst the hard-hitting, heartbreaking lyrical content of this record. Positive, upbeat and fun, it stands out hugely. It follows Tell Tale Signs, a song so remarkably personal I feel significantly uncomfortable listening to it. This album is somewhat of an emotional roller coaster, which manipulates emotions in a remarkable way.

Tape Deck Heart takes a completely different direction, both in themes and music, to previous albums. Lyrically, it connects with the listener on a rawer, far more personal level, with songs based on relationships, loss and love. These are not subjects rare to find in song writing, but not something Frank is normally known to visit in such depth. Moving a gigantic leap away from folk-rock songs about England and travelling, and noticeably produced and promoted on a much larger scale, makes the album feel like uncharted territory for Frank Turner. The Sleeping Souls, the band which give substance and musicality to the albums and live performances, seem to have played a much greater role in this record. The music includes a greater variation in instruments, such as the mandolin, and songs like Broken Piano demonstrate a far more obscure style. Somehow though, I’m left missing the traditional band format, and punchy upbeat style of the previous albums. In some ways driven folk-songs and story-telling is perhaps an unusual angle from which to write, which overall, makes for a good selling point. However, all good musicians may have to have the ability, and perhaps the necessity, to change. 

Recording in LA with well-respected producer Rich Costey, has clearly had an impact on this record. It has been produced to within an inch of its life – gone are the gritty voice cracks and imperfections, replaced instead with clear, polished, technically perfect ones.  The Sleeping Souls also appear to have been manipulated quite significantly, as though there has been an attempt to make them as clear and perfect as literally possible. However, they were already an incredibly tight band, that true to name, had soul. It seems to me that they have been over –produced and perfected. 

Normally, Frank albums have a healthy balance between thoughtful songs and positive, hopeful ones. Tape Deck Heart doesn’t. It manages to project these sad and meaningful thoughts onto the listener. Probably demonstrative of a good song,  but in all honesty it is fairly draining listen, and not something it would be wise to listen to in a less than upbeat mood.  It’s an utterly personal record, the lyrics at times cringe-worthy to hear. Pushing far beyond the boundaries set in his previous albums, Tape Deck Heart is a raw, biting record. At times, it feels as though you’ve accidentally read the diary of a stranger – that you’ve heard something not intended for public consumption. 

It’s a technically accomplished album, with deep and thought-provoking lyrics. It visits musical styles not before heard in previous albums, yet it seems to lack the folk-rock charm Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls are famous for. It may not be the best record you hear this year, and it may not be the best record Frank has ever written, but it is a huge step away from his ordinary style, and courageously honest, and for that alone, it deserves significant recognition.