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  Fred Frith And Arte Quartet 
  Still Urban
  (Intakt) 


  
   review by Jeph Jerman
  2009-05-02
Fred Frith And Arte Quartet: Still Urban (Intakt)

This little gem might be overshadowed by other recent Frith-related offerings (the Henry Cow box set for example) and it's a shame. What we have here are pieces composed by Frith for a saxophone quartet, aided and abetted by his very recognizable guitar improvising and some field recordings of cityscapes. Placing these compositions among traffic sounds and the odd bit of conversation gives the feeling that the recording could've happened out on the street, and further, that it wouldn't be at all bizarre or uncommon. They somehow fit right in.

The main thrust of sound is the sax quartet, and Frith's guitar is sometimes so unobtrusive that it just sounds like another horn. He does occasionally jut out by himself, but not for long, and often to signal a change in the form. When his feedback and scraping erupt during "part 2", it's to throw a foil into the until-then serene orchestrations. Soon after we get diced up guitar/sax improvisations placed alongside big saxophone chords. The whole seesaws back and forth like this quite a bit, with a goodly amount of Fred's sense of humor intercut with solemn pathos, never residing for too long in any one emotional place.







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