Fred Frith (country, jazz, rock, cd, albums)

**cardboard adolescent** · 02-04-2008, 06:56 PM

is the mastermind behind Henry Cow, Art Bears, Skeleton Crew and Massacre, as well as countless collaborations (including Naked City) and solo material. He is the avant-garde guitarist, capable of weaving beautiful and intricate folk melodies as well as wrenching the most extreme timbres imaginable from the instrument. His early stuff with Henry Cow is complex partly rehearsed/part improv jazz fusion, most of his collaborations are either avant-garde folk or rock, often with more of a chamber group than rock band feel to them. His solo material ranges from modernist classical compositions to brilliantly absurd Residents-esque avant-pop. Basically, he's the man.

He is also the focus of the experimental documentary "Step Across the Border," which is a beautiful film and extremely fitting to the music.

Recommended reading:

Infinite-Machine: Double Massacre
Untitled & Anonymous ∞: Fred Frith - Gravity

Wayfarer · 02-06-2008, 01:00 AM

Ahhh yes, he's awesome. Henry Cow's one of my favourite bands. I've only heard three of his solo albums though. Need to grab some more.

GravitySlips · 02-06-2008, 03:22 AM

Henry Cow rules.

The Art Bears are awful...although I haven't listened in a while.

Cool guy.

**cardboard adolescent** · 02-06-2008, 11:37 AM

I don't particularly care for The Art Bears either, the vocals are a bit too grating for me. I would highly recommend the Henry Cow/Slapp Happy collaborations, though.

GravitySlips · 02-06-2008, 02:54 PM

Yeah that's exactly it, the vocals really put me off. Like I said though, it's been a while and it probably deserves another go, so I'll listen to it soon.

The only Henry Cow I've heard is "Unrest", but shit...what a fantastic album. I'll look into those collaborations.

**cardboard adolescent** · 02-06-2008, 09:30 PM

I think my favorite Fred Frith album at this point is Skeleton Crew's Country of Blinds.

Boskov · 07-23-2008, 11:33 AM

His CD from the John Zorn 50th Celebration is awesome; I'm rather fond of Henry Cow and Art Bears as well.

Still, I need more Frith.

blackspots · 08-07-2008, 09:20 AM

anyone heard "rova orkestrova" (fred frith is a part of it along with nels cline, yoshihide, etc) anyway they do an incredible take on john coltrane's "Ascension" called "Electric Ascension"
look it up!

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02-04-2008, 06:56 PM
cardboard adolescent time isn't on my side Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,528	Fred Frith is the mastermind behind Henry Cow, Art Bears, Skeleton Crew and Massacre, as well as countless collaborations (including Naked City) and solo material. He is the avant-garde guitarist, capable of weaving beautiful and intricate folk melodies as well as wrenching the most extreme timbres imaginable from the instrument. His early stuff with Henry Cow is complex partly rehearsed/part improv jazz fusion, most of his collaborations are either avant-garde folk or rock, often with more of a chamber group than rock band feel to them. His solo material ranges from modernist classical compositions to brilliantly absurd Residents-esque avant-pop. Basically, he's the man. He is also the focus of the experimental documentary "Step Across the Border," which is a beautiful film and extremely fitting to the music. Recommended reading: Infinite-Machine: Double Massacre Untitled & Anonymous ∞: Fred Frith - Gravity __________________ Free Music! Free Art! The Ocean Will Have Us All

02-06-2008, 01:00 AM
Wayfarer Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,290	Ahhh yes, he's awesome. Henry Cow's one of my favourite bands. I've only heard three of his solo albums though. Need to grab some more. __________________ The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.

02-06-2008, 03:22 AM
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 778	Henry Cow rules. The Art Bears are awful...although I haven't listened in a while. Cool guy.

02-06-2008, 11:37 AM
cardboard adolescent time isn't on my side Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,528	I don't particularly care for The Art Bears either, the vocals are a bit too grating for me. I would highly recommend the Henry Cow/Slapp Happy collaborations, though. __________________ Free Music! Free Art! The Ocean Will Have Us All

02-06-2008, 02:54 PM
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 778	Yeah that's exactly it, the vocals really put me off. Like I said though, it's been a while and it probably deserves another go, so I'll listen to it soon. The only Henry Cow I've heard is "Unrest", but shit...what a fantastic album. I'll look into those collaborations.

02-06-2008, 09:30 PM
cardboard adolescent time isn't on my side Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,528	I think my favorite Fred Frith album at this point is Skeleton Crew's Country of Blinds. __________________ Free Music! Free Art! The Ocean Will Have Us All

07-23-2008, 11:33 AM
Boskov Groupie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14	His CD from the John Zorn 50th Celebration is awesome; I'm rather fond of Henry Cow and Art Bears as well. Still, I need more Frith.

08-07-2008, 09:20 AM
blackspots Groupie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 27	anyone heard "rova orkestrova" (fred frith is a part of it along with nels cline, yoshihide, etc) anyway they do an incredible take on john coltrane's "Ascension" called "Electric Ascension" look it up! __________________