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Speechless Fred Frith
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Cuts 1-5: Frith- gtr., violin, mellotron, bass, organ, voice Guigou Chenevier- drums, tenor sax, voice Margot Mathieu- soprano and tenor saxes, voice Ferdinand Richard- bass, guimbarde, voice Jo Thirion- organ, harmonium Cuts 6-13: Frith- gtr., violin, keybs., bass, drums, voice Bill Laswell- bass Fred Maher- drums
Not all that Eighties frenetic music has held up as this re-release shows. The first group here offers full-bore category Cuisinarting. Though it’s sometimes delightfully energizing (“Kick the Can”, “Carnival on Wall Street”), it can sometimes be eclectically show-offy (“Laughing Matter”, “Woman Speak to Men”) in a Zorn way. Too much of the second group is just plain enervating. Throughout, Frith is tremendous when he’s lyrical but he provides frustratingly little of that here. The last two tracks are gems and prove that he’s capable of small miracles. He’s plain captivating when he’s not trying to prove anything, not trying to multitask all the time.
For the Frith faithful only. ReR/ FRO 04
Richard Grooms |