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

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!

02-04-2008, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	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

08-07-2008, 09:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
blackspots Groupie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 41	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! __________________

02-06-2008, 03:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	Henry Cow rules. The Art Bears are awful...although I haven't listened in a while. Cool guy.

02-06-2008, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	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.

02-06-2008, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	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	#5 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	I think my favorite Fred Frith album at this point is Skeleton Crew's Country of Blinds.

07-23-2008, 11:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
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.