British guitarist and composer Fred Frith released a pair of albums at the beginning of the '80s--GRAVITY was the first, and SPEECHLESS was its successor. Frith plays with a number of different ensembles (including Massacre and the French Etron Fou Leloublan), on an album that recalls material that he recorded in his previous bands, Henry Cow and The Art Bears. "Carnival on Wall Street" sounds like it could have stepped out of IN PRAISE OF LEARNING. The pieces mix intricate composition and improvisation, with the focus primarily on the former. The songs feature Frith's guitar and violin work and are textured by more saxophones than any of his previous material--a few numbers utilize a trio of reeds. This album is wonderfully structured and flows perfectly. Both this release and its predecessor remain fine entry points into Frith's work.
On my last century top 20... One of FF's best records. A mix of rock, folk/ethnic, noise. Experimental; but tight - no week spots. A pitty he seems to make too much left hand work these days. Submitted by Torben (Frederiksberg, Denmark) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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