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PRICE:
$16.00
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1-2 Weeks
ARTIST
TITLE
Gravity
FORMAT
CD

LABEL
CATALOG #
FRO 001CD FRO 001CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
6/3/2002

"Fred Frith is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest electric guitarists. Starting out with UK avant rock group Henry Cow in the early 70's, he developed a devastating melodic fuzz lead guitar style that took its cue from the 'Canterbury' bands Soft Machine and Hatfield and the North. He's also developed a whole series of Frithisms which do not rely on the fuzz box -- gorgeous jazz chords which swell out of thin air, delicate high melodic lines, fantastically complex riffs, and a new language of the solo improvisation which re-connects Derek Bailey with rock n roll. Gravity, originally released on vinyl by Ralph Records in 1980, is one of Fred's most enjoyable and accessible releases. It was born at a time when he wanted to get away from the massive and complex structures of Henry Cow, and he began to think about more direct song and dance forms. During a Greek holiday he scribbled down the melodies of local musicians on napkins, raw material for this album of intriguing electric guitar and violin tunes. There are some impossibly catchy melodies, arranged with the off kilter sense of harmony and instrumentation reminiscent of the first Cow album, but here delivered with in-your-face brutal simplicity. There is mutated mandolin, township jazz piano, Balkan wedding music, and Fred's trademark fuzz guitar. There's even a vicious re-working of Dancing in the Street. Musicians including The Muffins and Samla Mammas Manna and Marc Hollander are the support."