Yep he was the British Zappa! Unfortunately his band Henry Cow got distracted by the radical leftist crap that was trying to make the Soviet Union welcome to walk into Western Europe (even if those playing didn't realise it).
After that it's great to hear this joyous playing of music for it's own sake. Political music is an oxymoron to me. If you want to be political write a book- or even better- don't! All of politics is complete, self-serving crap; Right, Left, or Centre. Realism stupid!
Amygdala off Legg End (Henry Cow) and Napoleon from The Science Project (the version without the vocals) are my favourities, but this album sounds great too and perhaps needs a re-release. What I have always struggled with is the long spontaneous, self-indulgent, improvisations. I never managed to get anything but bored by most of them, but to me the composed stuff is brilliant and pretty unique.
Fred Frith has a maniacal joyousness in his music. "Look Mum, I'm playing with their ears!" Inventive doesn't come close to describing this. I totally agree with jameshippiekid - Fred rates better than Zappa or Fripp. This music saved my life.
Yep he was the British Zappa! Unfortunately his band Henry Cow got distracted by the radical leftist crap that was trying to make the Soviet Union welcome to walk into Western Europe (even if those playing didn't realise it).
After that it's great to hear this joyous playing of music for it's own sake. Political music is an oxymoron to me. If you want to be political write a book- or even better- don't! All of politics is complete, self-serving crap; Right, Left, or Centre. Realism stupid!
Hirudinaceous 1 month ago
Amygdala off Legg End (Henry Cow) and Napoleon from The Science Project (the version without the vocals) are my favourities, but this album sounds great too and perhaps needs a re-release. What I have always struggled with is the long spontaneous, self-indulgent, improvisations. I never managed to get anything but bored by most of them, but to me the composed stuff is brilliant and pretty unique.
Hirudinaceous 4 months ago
Fred Frith has a maniacal joyousness in his music. "Look Mum, I'm playing with their ears!" Inventive doesn't come close to describing this. I totally agree with jameshippiekid - Fred rates better than Zappa or Fripp. This music saved my life.
spaceboojum 6 months ago
wow!!!! What a song!!! But, the ending, where Frith goes: aaaaaaaaaauuugh-eeeaaaaauuuuaaaahhh!!!!!!!
ksjoyjespeace 1 year ago
@ksjoyjespeace thats at the very start of the nest song on the cd I own
DrGonzoOBoogie 1 year ago
Fred Frith is an underrated musician, I think he is up there with some of the greats like, Frank Zappa, Mike Patton and John Zorn....
jameshippiekid 1 year ago
@jameshippiekid I am just starting to get into his music, and so far, I agree! completely!
crookedmelody1 10 months ago
One of my all time fav albums! What an awesome mix of music!
deoarby 1 year ago 2