crukster

Fred - Self Titled

1971



From listening to the first track on this album, "Four Evenings", you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a Folk rock album with Irish or Celtic influences of some sort.

But I've been listening to this on shuffle for the last couple of hours, and it really surprised me - threw a few curve balls that I didn't know it had in there.

The whole album is generally pretty lax, good for chilling out - but not a sleepy chillout like Pink Floyd, it's more like a "kick the dust around" forget your worries who gives a crap sort of chill, like a good reggae album, it's not reggae though at all, it's quite a distinctive sound :

"Soft Fisherman" makes me think of a less manic Yezda Urfa.

"Booking Agent blues" has some vocals that wouldn't be out of place in an ELO song.

Some of the more traditional folk elements like the synth ditties and stuff remind me a bit of Gryphon's work

Reminiscent of Caravan at some parts, generally throughout the album and specifically in "A love song".

"By the way "is an awesome tune, deserves special mention.


The whole album works the distinctive opening riff of "By the Way" throughout, usually as a base line or partial riff, being most prominent in By the Way, and then weaving it's way throughout the rest of the album.

The guitars play off nicely against the violins; I would defintly say the most prominent and memorable thing about the album is the violin work, it's what sets it apart from the group and gives it it's own sound.


Anyone heard this album, what's your thoughts on it?

If not I recomend it if you're into any of the above bands or easy going music.