Fred Frith & Otomo Yoshihide

[CroissantOrange]

 I fart more musical than this.

[wordupassholes]

Fred is like the handsomest man on earth. Really

[Speedoman1978]

I just do not get it. enjoy.

[blefusku]

i saw fred performing some months ago, it's true, his improvising nowadays seems less anarchic or chaotic than, say the japanese album or others from the early 80's. I think he's developed so much craftmanship over his playing and set up that everything seems to be more in control, with much more subtleness and space for 'ambient' passages...perhaps a bit predictable???

[enigmism4life]

I like both of these guys but I think this is pretty bad for them. Sometimes spontaneous childlike improv fails too.

[revdom666]

Wow. I've read through a few pages of comments and I am happy to see that people are actually behaving like civil human beings when discussing their likes and dislikes of this video and "experimental" music in general. I haven't seen one "FAG" or "PLAY SOME REAL MUSIC" yet and I really appreciate that. People, of course, are entitled to their opinions but it is refreshing to see actual discussion instead of bald insults and baiting.

[gigino1957]

Ad andare in giro scalzi con tutta quella caveria sul palco c'è un concreto pericolo di 220: sarebbe il perfetto (e forse definitivo) coronamento di questa particolare performance?

[geoffnicholson999]

Gotta love Fred Frith - but I wish he'd keep those feet covered.

[skorziks]

wtf is this? pointless noise? when I was 18 i used to drop acid, plug my brothers guitar in and make sounds just like this. it was pointless noise...just like this is.

[wash0087]

Frith sounds a lot like Jandek here, more controlled of course.

[fryBASS]

7:20 ... EPIC.

[y3k23k]

mary harlvorson is almost pushing it for me, this kept my attention for five minutes. its way too hard to appreciate, yea w/e call me narrow minded but i like things that are a little more tangible.

[CharlieBaltazar]

@y3k23k Since we're talking about music, your comment makes me wonder if you've actually held "tangible" music, that is, sound. Maybe you mean "more accessible?"

[koreankayagum]

Having said that, it wold make good soundtrack music.

[ohioisforloverz]

comparing that sort of jazz to classical music like bach's is a bit out of place i'd say

[koreankayagum]

Hats off to them for at least trying something new, but I would KILL myself if I had to listen to more than 30 minutes of this stuff. It has no drama, no development., and is ultimately pretty one-dimensional. Listen to some J.S. Bach fugues, for example, and then listen to this. It's like a child's scribblings versus paintings by Vermeer.

[Robusto103]

You know, there are people who think a child's scribblings are as beautiful as Vermeer's paintings. It's a matter of energy, intensity and spontaneous inventions. They're both different shapes of the same thing.

[oldlampsfornew]

@Robusto103

Indeed! I always get a good laugh out of that "oh my child could draw that, or my child could make the same kind of music banging on a piano, etc". Yeah? cool can I play with your child? (hah play music that is..). Ok this comment is turning out wierd..

[Bartolomeus9]

@Robusto103 Yeah, but those people could well be described as retarded because those are two very different kinds of "beautiful"...as you said :-) *("different shapes"). I don't think it necessarily refers to "the same thing" - have neither seen proof of it nor felt it that way.

[Edo655321]

bla bla bla "innovation"... russolo did it ... uh.. 1926 i think... anyway, its not new, just good, very good.

[findingusernamesucks]

who cares if it's new . . . geez . . . but the point to Russolo's stuff anyway was to expand the orchestra through noise makers rather than real instruments it really has nothing to do with this at all . . . if you're gonna name drop know wtf you're talking about . . . these men are using just insturments therefore has nothing to do with Russolo . . . read The Art of Noises then you'll understand what I mean . . .

[Tosmm]

fucking amazing

[DannyDesperate]

The only weird thing here is the fact people still have difficulty getting their brain cells wrapped around the fact that experimental guitar playing is at least as traditional and lick-laden as rock and roll itself. Nothing unusual or innovative here, check out Syd Barrett in '67 and take the band away - see? 

So, stuff the intellectual corporeal / cerebral / technical thang - the real (only?) question is this; IS IT ACTUALLY ENTERTAINING?

[oabrahamsson]

Agree with you except one thing: Entertaining? My own music (as an experimental composer) often has political motives (especially when I use text, either performed or printed on the concert program). It is not necessarily "entertaining" as such, but hopefully interesting and thought provoking. What´s your take on that?

Kindly, Olle

[DannyDesperate]

Hi Olle - I tolerated the merely 'interesting' for years when it dawned (snoozing at a Cow gig) that 'entertainment' was the sole criterion of performance. Regardless of inspiration (anything, but politics..?) does it engage the audience? If not, surely it is elitist teaching/preaching? Arrghh!!

Harry Partch & Art Ensemble realised 'entertaining' was far harder than 'thought provoking' to do & that entertainment can come in MANY guises. Viva Spike & Beefheart & Zappa!!

Best, DD

[findingusernamesucks]

I think it's very entertaining . . . if it weren't interesting I don't think it would entertain me either . . . You are right on when you say that experimental music has as much history as any other by now but does that some how make it less relevant just because it isn't completely original?

[findingusernamesucks]

I mean I like Partch, Frith, Yoshihide, Beefheart, and Zappa . . . some people just don't get that you can accomodate all these great artists . . . who is Spike though?

[DannyDesperate]

Who? The self styled guru of gunshots as percussion who took Luigi Russolo's art of noise manifesto and tore it up in time to a Broadway lullaby, that's who! The one and only Mr Spike "..too hip for the square and too square for the hip.." Jones (and of course his ever wonderful City Slickers).

[findingusernamesucks]

That didn't really answer my question at all. What's his full name I'd like to check him out if you hold him in such high regard.

[DannyDesperate]

I'm sure it did!! But let's try again... His name, as I said before, is Spike Jones. His 'musical ensemble' is called the City Slickers. Search youtube for 'Cocktails for Two - Spike Jones', it's as good a place to start as any, but the non-Hollywood concert footage is best. There would be no Mothers of Invention without this lot, the arrangements (all Spike's) make John Cage's scores look very tame indeed!

[findingusernamesucks]

oh ic . . . I heard his name in a The Band song wouldn't expect them to be name dropping an experimental composer . . .

[findingusernamesucks]

Well as wonderful as Jones, Zappa, and Von Vliet are it doesn't take after from things like this or Cage or anyone else pushing the boundaries of what a song is . . .

[findingusernamesucks]

and yes it will be pushing the boundaries until it is widely excepted. I'd say that's the definition of such words. Though new or not I still just enjoy the sounds.

[vekkth]

in fact this is a great work these guys did. ambient noise guitar music at its very very best. cheers to the person who shared this and also happy new your all of you crazy music lovers :)

[JimShoes1]

Fucking boring crap...I'd rather listen to the sound of my shit falling into the toilet. That's exciting!

[Fiocle]

To all the arrogant fucks who are hating on this;

Music/Enjoyment/Interpretation is 100% subjective dipshits. Just because you don't like it, does not make it bad/not music.

It works both ways. However forced and contrived Britney Spears' work is, there are people who get genuine pleasure for listening to it. I'm not going to piss on their bonfire, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't piss on this one. The sooner people learn this, the further music will advance and the happier I'll be.

[sydswirl]

Fucking amen man, fuck all the haters of this awesome artistic music. Only those who are into the avant-garde and play the avent garde will truly understand the complete meditative state of noise.

[jamesvla]

awesome stuff

[jdeertick]

He really dialed in the tone on that Fender at 4:11.

[kelseyturk]

But I hardly doubt, since people nowadays compare music to what they've been fed by the TV.

"I don't UNDERSTAND, This doesn't sound like BLINK-182!"

"How can this be music?"

Unlike what you've been taught to believe, music isn't a matter of puzzle pieces. You don't just piece stuff together, and repeat over and over. Hmm. Let's see, I have a guitar here, lets put power chords on root notes in a C-G-A-F progression, and repeat until people worship us. In my opinion, that isn't music.

[kelseyturk]

Baroque music wasn't considered music until after all the douchebags of the time died.

Impressionist music wasn't music until the douchebags of the time died.

Serialism wasn't music until the douchebags of the time died.

Likewise, 43 Tone intonation innovated by Harry Partch wasn't music until the douche bags of the time died.

I say give it another 100 years, and maybe people will finally understand what music is.

[kelseyturk]

Shhhh..... it's okay. It's natural to be afraid and resentful to something alien to you. I reacted the same way towards 12-tone serialism/Dodecaphony. I think this music is beautiful. Who's to say what music is? there have always been douchebags overtime who react negatively to something they don't understand. Surely, one can agree that rain hitting the ground, and rhythmic stomping of feet on concrete isn't music. But is it? I myself have heard music in it.

[MusicaFabalis]

Haha, well put. the Van Halen part... i guess 99% of people will never understand sounds like these... to each his own i guess. Amazing video.

[MusicaFabalis]

Wow, like a dream. two of my all time favourite guitarists, together and completely sketching out. Original, creative and true. I can completely understad why people can't get into this sort of music, but you can't put it down and call it talentless just because it doesn't follow any particular scales or timings. The musical world would be pretty dull if we were all trapped in a box playing the same old shit. Amazing, thanks for the upload. Is the whole gig available anywhere? i want more!!!!!!!

[tudortoomey]

This really just reminds me of people who cant play guitar at all. How do people actually listent to this? They dont seem to understand anything to do with music! It would appear that they are just picking random notes and playing them badly. Maybe i'm wrong. would anyone like to enlighten as to how this can ever be considered "listenable"?

[MusicaFabalis]

Music doesn't have to be melodic, at the end of the day music's about feeling, and no matter how messed up this is it speaks, just maybe not to you. These guys are both accomplished musicians and can play beautifully when they want to, but they're obviously somewhere else in this jam. A lot of Jazz is like that, no boundaries, just exploring the soundscapes. I listen to a lot of "normal" music but i love this, it's passionate and honest. Maybe you don't understand anything to do with music?

[tudortoomey]

Music isn't just about feeling. It's possible to have feeling and be rubbish at producing music. I'm sure they can play beautifully when they want to. If that's so why would you play shit for the sake of it. Really, if an unknown guitarist posted this on YouTube there would be many "keep practicing" comments. This is not jazz by the way. I'm not saying we should all play the same thing but this isnt actually not playing the instrument and takes no skill whatsoever. And i do understand music.

[Alquinto360]

Yeah i take back everyhing bad i said about this. Although Im not in favour im starting to appreciate it now. Maybe thats how people felt when Jimi Hendrix unleashed his own style in music

[tontolomeo]

"The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context".So don't read what you want to read, but go studing and please not on wikipedia.

[Undiddley]

I'm curious about the person behind the 3510211 moniker... do people push you around at work? (you are employed, of course) angry, angry man. well, enjoy Paco De Lucia. he's got a striking ponytail doesnt he?

[AsaNisiMasa7]

To think I saw Frith live in London in 2001, one evening when I was so completely exhausted from work (I was totally burnt out at the time!) that I actually fell asleep during his concert! Those who commented that appreciating his music takes time are absolutely right. Give him a shot, it's really worth it!

[Wavelength247]

Frith is a creative treasure, this is music for big ears and minds.

[eucezinha]

This is not the kind of instant music which all you are fed in a daily basis. So, please at least recognize that things than you do not understand might exist.

[rfelb]

You guys should check out sigur ros....they are masters at this stuff.

[tytodalba]

I see. Then machinery can produce masterpieces. The sound of an engine can be handled so it's truly organized, not random in the least, but sounds exactly like garbage, but that's not for us to decide.

Jimi Hendrix's use of feedback has never had anything to do with the organized, neither the predicted nor what others understood as garbage.

[UzumakiNaruto2012]

wow all i can say is these two ediots are monkeys trying to play guitars

the only way i can respect this music if i think of it in the sense of silent hills bizzare music

i hope these guys arent getting paid for this

[Bix12]

2012 can't come quick enough--at least there won't be anymore pinheads like you & Dimzmini...I say good riddance to narrow-minded, judgemental bigots--and fyi, Fred was playing a group called Henry Cow, highly acclaimed innovators in the early world fusion scene--all this long before you were even born, I'm sure.

[3510211]

its not music.

[Bix12]

No, it's not Toby Keith..or Poison...or Mariah Carrey...or 50 cent...or whatever pre-packaged, moronic "every-song-must-sound-exactly­-the-same-or-it-makes-no-sense­-to-my-pea-sized-brain" garbage AOR radio has programmed you to listen to--News Flash: there are things in this world that fall outside of your cookie-cutter existence. Those of us with an active, alert & engaged brain consider those "opportunities" to learn something new, while others cling to their ignorance like a security blanket.

[3510211]

paco De Lucia, joe pass, john mclaughlin, liquid tension experiment...yup programmed by the radio. You're one of the people see a splatter of paint on an canvas and call it art. This isn't music. Do you actually pop this in your CD player and listen to it? There is no harmony, no melody, no rhythm. It's pure noise. I don't record my sound of my blender and call it music, why is this music? Because the sound is coming from a guitar? You do realize anybody can make these noises right?

[Bix12]

Actually, I'm one of "those people" that agrees with Mark Twain 110% when he said "It's better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." And, btw--I don't care for the piece, either--it's not my cup of tea at all.

However, there were others who thought it was great. Now, I also could've ridiculed the video, in a loud & condescending voice, ala the Typical Ugly American I too often come across when traveling--instead I chose the high road...the one Twain recommended

[3510211]

The others who thought it was great were faking it to seem intelligent and different everyone else. Nobody really listens to this and enjoys it. There is no melody, harmony or rhythm. It's not music.

[tytodalba]

It would be too absolute to say that noone likes this. We know for a fact that at least two people honestly yearn for music like this. Make that three.

[3510211]

Three LSD users.

[tytodalba]

You're being too rude. How old are you?

[3510211]

Again, this isn't music. How high are you?

[tytodalba]

Then what is music?

[3510211]

not unorganized, random sounds that sound like complete garbage

[r1kkyb0bby]

oh yeah, it's LSD alright

[fatalspore13]

Music:

"Music is an art form in which the medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The word derives from Greek μουσική (mousike), "(art) of the Muses".[1]"

[3510211]

yeah and this guy lacks all of that. whats you point?

[pangtjoff]

This guy has all of that, but not in the way you are used to.

[tontolomeo]

uau, cool! you lerned it on wikipedia?

what a nerd.So, from wiki:"20th-century composer John Cage was explicit that any sound can be music, saying, for example, "There is no noise, only sound."[2] According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez, "the border between music and noise is always culturally defined—which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus"

[rogankobu]

super video

[Dzimini]

You find this interesting????!!!!!! This is so stupid and moronic! How could anyone call this music???!!! This is the worst thing I've ever heard in my life, and I hope I will never hear something like this. idiots....

[cesargc2]

¿leíste bien, idiota? Música, como tu pobre concepción de música, posiblemente no es. espacio de experimentación sonora... "experimentación"

[zizizzzzz]

masters of their kind.....

just wonderful!!!!!

nothing else to say!!

[gardinal]

wonderful if you listen without intent or expectation.

[Conyej]

Very interesting.. listen to this without purpose or resolution.. open your ears.. HOW DOES THE MUSIC MAKE YOU FEEL? Bored? Excited? Afraid? well.. its done its job then...

[3510211]

None of the above. All I feel is that is waste of a guitar.

[lennyvhalen]

weirdos

[tenmk7]

hey lennyvhalen

yeah, i guess it would sound wierd to you being that you probably listen to b spears (maybe while pullin your pud?)

get a life dork

[Beadbud5000]

This is improv created to set bizarre moods. Avant-Guard. These two players are master of thier trade

[1985Zann]

great!!!i love this...

[Alquinto360]

AND THOSE ARE NICE GUITARS and what are they doing to it....BREAKING IT!its like my baby cousin try to break an acoustic guitar thats what it sounds like

[tontolomeo]

i think you have serious problems.you are talking like a moron, i'm really sad for you.

You can post and post comments about what you like and dislike,but no one of the people who likes Fripp and Otomo will listen to you,in primis because they know wht music is.You are not jesus,shut your mouth

[SPLINTERAL]

but really music is for everyone to listen not music geniuses or musicians sheesh. THat's waht its made for. This is only probably good when ur getting high off crack and some drugs

[tontolomeo]

i like it and i'm not on crack.So maybe music is NOT made of what you are saying. Youcannot decide what music is made for, you have only to listen to or not listen to, that's all.

[booksteve]

actually no. this sound stuff is good to listen to because it gets you to start thinking about sounds outside what you normally call music. let your ears expand naturally. drugs are , by the way, a complete waste of time and energy.

[xenotoxette]

I'd disagree, people who use them irresponsibly and innapropriately are a complete waste of time and energy. Sitting around getting high on the weekends with some friends and eating all your potato chips isn't really a bad thing, you just need to know when and when not to.

[Alquinto360]

KK I still dont get why ppl find this good. No offense though. I mean these sounds can be used in diffrent music. But it gets so shitty if used in a long period of time

[tohtiengchiah]

creepy

[gtralisfr69]

if they had some rhythm this would be cool, but without it this just sounds like a bunch of noise.

[froy1986]

pink floyd rules Psychodelic! fuck yeah

[froy1986]

what kind of music is this?!!

[tohtiengchiah]

it's creepy music

[arturobandiniti]

ambiental maybe. who cares. just listen..

[woodsy58]

Dear Fred

Please come to Australia....we need you!

[AngeloNoel]

Great Ambient Noise video! Otomo it's a very good anti-music!

[wrongstring]

some seriously classy moments.wich i think is all that improvised mucic reaches for

[drazenja]

fred frith from henry cow and otomo yoshihide from ground zero...perfect circle!!!

[damperdan111]

Fred is excellent. Anyone doubts, pick up Massacre's Killing Time.

[Alquinto360]

WAste of a guitarist. waste of money of a guitar. No skill. If you wanna see a good effects gutiarist Look at tom morello, van halen and jimmy page. Although Tom Morello aint that technical, he makes a melody. THis is called shit.

[tontolomeo]

tom morello, van halen and jimmy page???

ahahhaah

you are 16 years old,right?

go to school

[Alquinto360]

KK the ones i mentioned are okay. But seriously, try to diffretiate between shit and melody.

[captainhorseshit]

Shouldn't your name be ALCUNTO3andahalfyearsold you stupid fucking shithead? Jimmy Page? Van Halen? Go back to shredding your foreskin on your piece of fucking shit plywood guitar you turd brained fucking moron!!! LOL!

[Alquinto360]

LOL jimmy page aint a shredder. K van halen is ok. First of all. are they playing a melody. No not music at all. Nine inch nails uses this kind of playing properly even the muse. K try to listen to a melody! get it a melody. I think youre just deaf to diffrentiate

[adamomusica]

most 20th century music outside mainstream doesn't have a melody.

[shishigamii]

...i dont understand...

[siktoy]

i just don't get it. i'm sorry.

[SensoryOssuary]

it's okay

[prasiddha]

It's A-OK! At least you are polite about it. Unlike a lot of other youtubers...

[icantdrive65]

The comment that I want to post would not be welcome here.

[apunktopunkt]

i liked otomos part at 07:00 till 07:15

weird.... :D

[wafflecotton]

excellent. two artists very open to anything, no matter if it seems to "fit" aesthetically.. ACE!

[gtristdan]

Fred is truly an amazing artist

[alxenllamas]

AWSOME otomo is the best.

[temetoeldedo]

tocar y fluir sin pensar, solo debes saber que existes, nada mas.

[smegghiggins]

who decided that pretentious and ridiculous was a bad thing? i say, the more pretentious and ridiculous, the better.

[juanzappa]

Beatiuful coments!!!.....of course, there are always exceptions, like that guy down there, Triibe?......... yeah, pretensious and ridiculous like your skull......

[marlontarditi]

You gotta be open minded ok, and pushing the boundaries it's always more than welcome, but this???

I mean, what the heck! It makes my cat eligible for the Van Halen reunion, bass or frontcat, whatever!

These guys don't need a sense of humor, 'cause I'm laughing already! Ah ah ah...!!!!!

[tiranosaurio56]

is very good man!!! . he esperado por algo like that please more videos

[Triibe]

pretentious and ridiculous

[jeffreycollins]

It was Fred and Jim O'Rourke that got me into prepared guitar playing. OMG how I miss it. THANKS for putting this video up. Is there anyway to get an AVI file of this? Please.

[Pighood]

I think Fred broke it. I'll fetch a cloth.

[grajahu]

Nice!

[ADURG1]

fantastic.  thanks for sharing!

[luudnoma]

Ground Zero and Art Bears beyond the limits.How i enjoy Otomo and Fred playing together. Thanks a lot.

[raulfuentes]

Ahí está el del Zinco.