Gravity

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Total Tracks: 13   Total Length: 47:05

eMusic Review

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David Stubbs

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Sneakily political dance music, world-style.
2005 | Label: RER Megacorp / IODA

Another album whose lightness and jouissance bucks the ReR imprint's undeserved, under-heavy-manners reputation. Recorded in 1980 initially for Ralph Records, Gravity is an album of unabashed dance music, though not in the disco/funk sense of its day. Rather, its infectious, folksy rhythms and mazy melodies draw on an imagined, pan-global tradition of fun-time folk and, as such, anticipate later appetites for world music. The chipper strains of “Spring Any Day Now” are typical — but there's still a mischievous political glint in the cover of Martha and the Vandellas '”Dancing in the Street,” which features the sampled cheers of Iranians jubilant at the capture of American hostages.

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dancin' in the streets!

dgcirkus

Talk about commercial appeal...everybody was dancin' in the streets! This was one of my favorite 45's of 81'! Any one else? Thank Gawd for music in all its splendid forms, and Fred covers them all with a smear and a clothes pin!

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A Must Have

eyesbleedTX

This is an essential album. I bought this LP 20+yrs ago & it still sounds just as fresh & ahead of it's time now as it did then. Now that isn't an easy thing to do. I personally prefer the more experimental "Speechless", but Gravity is an important addition that you will not regret checking out. Fred's the man!

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get more frith

suomynona

I discovered this album some years ago. And it is a nice one. But, I like the earlier frith albums more than the latest ones. You should also look for the movie "step across the border"; the sound track is also very good. And there is a project with FF and Tom Cora: "Skeleton Crew". Try to get one of these, it really is fun to hear these border crossing sounds.

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If you don't like this you suck

stiggywigget

No, I'm kidding. Kind of. I'm betting that the expanded version of this disc is even more mindblowing as the reviewer above seems to suggest. But settle for this if you have to. Get the word "experimental" out of your head, this music is just plain fun.

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This disc is essential

EMUSIC-0101010

I have owned this disc for about 12 years (pre Emusic, of course) and cannot imagine life without it. It is absolutely well crafted and cohesive for what some would consider non-musical. Some of the tracks remain more experimental than melodic, but there are enough gems on the disc that warrant having the whole thing. In particular, tracks 1 through 5. Although these are individual songs, the full impact of the music cannot be realized without listening to all the songs in order. There is a gradual progression from the basic beats/ambient sounds of track 1, through the catchy quirkiness of “Spring Any Day,” all the way to culmination in “Norrgarden Nyvla.” The only real downside of this offering is the lack of the ‘other’ tracks (tracks 14 through 19). Especially track 19, which is an introduction to Frith’s “Guitar Solo’s.”

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They Say All Media Guide

This one of the most important guitar-based, experimental guitar titles from the avant-guitarist and founding Henry Cow member Fred Frith. Gravity is the most lighthearted of Frith’s solo output, actually. It is Frith’s celebration of dance from all cultures. Perhaps it is the streak of dance-music appreciation that caused him to collaborate on the musical score to Sally Potter’s The Tango Lesson. Percussion is light and largely marked with handclaps. The guitars sound twangy and bring folk instrumentation to mind. Violins and horns add a jubilant feel to the music. Many musicians help vary the sound of each track and some of these guests are from Samla Mammas Manna, the Muffins, and Henry Cow. Gravity is an entertaining and multicultural pocket folk festival. – Tom Schulte

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