Fred Firth - Prints

If you read my feature on experimental music in this month’s edition, you’ll see that I lay into an album by Fred Frith called 'Guitar Solos'. Luckily, Frith gets a reprieve because of this record, a collection of his work over a number of years. Here he uses his sophisticated recording techniques to greater affect, and creates a nice little record. Unlike 'Guitar Solos' this album is focused and, therefore, more interesting. There are a number of highlights, like his cover of Bacharach/David’s 'Trains & Boats & Planes'. His singing voice is pleasant, somewhere between the Human League and David Bowie and he uses a wide variety of instruments. This record throws in synth-pop, metal, electronica, indie and jazz and comes out with some fascinating tunes. Its hardly a conventional display of songwriting, but always seems to be going somewhere.

Track Listing:-

1 Trains And Boats And Plaines
2 Stones
3 Fingerprints
4 Life of A Detective
5 The Ballad of Melody Nelson
6 Trocosi
7 Reduce Me
8 Levity
9 True Love
10 I Want It To Be Over
11 Spot
12 In The Winter of 64