Middle Of The Moment CD

Personnel: Fred Frith (guitar, violin, keyboards, bass guitar, percussion); Robert Lax, Sandra M'Bow (vocals); Mikaela Dietel, Fabrizio Appelius (accordion); Tim Hodgkinson (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone).
More of a real soundtrack album than is usually the case, Middle of the Moment was assembled by Fred Frith from a documentary film about a train ride through North Africa. Thus, there are equal parts ambient sounds, conversation, roadside songs, native drumming, and additional music. In large part, he was entirely successful, weaving natural sounds in and out of composed areas and selecting some gorgeous samples such as the throaty singing of a young girl on the opening track. Frith's own music is very recognizable as such, ranging from drawn-out, evocative guitar plaints to jaunty, acerbic accordion dances. Relatively unknown, this release fits in comfortably with many of his mature works and should be sought out by fans of albums of his such as Pacifica. ~ Brian OlewnickThe Wire (p.58) - "The music, in particular Frith's own guitar and violin, is some of his subtlest work, a kind of storytelling without words that conjures an odd, spellbound state."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.105) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Frith's dextrous touch makes it way beyond."