FRED FRITH — Allies (review)

FRED FRITH — Allies album cover Album · 1996 · Jazz Related Improv/Composition Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
One of RIO core figure and well-known NY down town artist Fred Frith's "Allies" were originally composed and recorded by him in 1989 on request of Bebe Miller as suite for the Brooklyn Academy of Music's "Next Wave'" series. Originally Fred used drum programming, and some years later unhappy with the sound of beat machine he asked his previous colaborator on Naked City project drummer Joey Baron to re-record tracks.

This album is a result , and generally you can hear that final sound is just Baron's drumming mixed over the previous recorded musical mix, what really limited his possibilities. All music was written as soundtrack for (modern) dance show, so it's well structured and quite accessible to listen. Fred plays solo on some different instruments (one - on every other song, including bass,violin,tape manipulation and drum machine besides of more usual guitars)with support of cellist Tom Cora and sax player George Cartwright.

Music is all pre-composed and sound well-calculated,angular and even mathematic by it's structure. For sure,initial drumming machine rhythm influenced the character of music, but it's obvious there are big element of Frith's quirky chamber-influenced sound coming from his Henry Cow years as well. Rhythms are complex and are changing in progress of compositions,at the same time melodic tunes are presented in every composition. Possibly not very various dynamically, this release are one of most matured and pleasantly accessible Frith solo album, even if it could be placed only somewhere on the borderline with real improvisational jazz.
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