Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 19:01:46 +0000 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Re: Fwd: The Leaf Label's e-mailing list #11 On 10 Feb 98 at 8:01, RBNRy@AOL.COM wrote: > FRIDGE (Kieran Hebden, Sam Jeffers & Adem Ilhan) > > Post-rocking Londoners Fridge are signed to the Underdog's Output > label and were responsible for the monstrous 'Anglepoised' single > last year. Their second album, Semaphore, is released in February > 1998. And the mighty "Lign" is out now - the 7" has an 18-second version and two unique tracks (one of which is very like Jessamine, the other a bit more rigid), the 12" has an extended mix (which still doesn't make it to the one minute mark) and three other pieces - there's well over half an hour of music on the two formats. I bought "Anglepoised" (again, about 35 minutes long) and the album "Ceefax" at the weekend, and haven't listened to them enough to pass final judgement but they sound pretty good on the strength of a couple of listens. Basically instrumental, like Tortoise with some of the jazzy tendencies removed and more of a techno edge. Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 20:05:07 +0000 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Re: Fridge & Aerial M On 11 Feb 98 at 11:22, David Thorpe wrote: > Andrew said with regards to Fridge "Lign": > > the mighty "Lign" is out now - the 7" has an 18-second version...the 12" > > has an extended mix (which still doesn't make it to the one minute > > mark)...but they sound pretty good on the strength of a couple of > > listens. > > Yes, pretty good stuff, I think most of you would enjoy this if you > can get your hands on it - quite a varied selection on the 12" - but > it's quite limited I think so you'll have to be quick. The Leaf > mailing mentioned they have an album out - has this come out yet? Not to my knowledge - "Lign" was only last week. The first one, "Ceefax", has a plain white cover with Beatles-style subliminal artist information (white writing on the cellophane wrapper in the vinyl case), and is a bit more Mogwai-like than "Lign". "Lign" is limited to 1000 on each format, I'm not quite sure how many people are going to be interested enough to buy it - some of these "extremely limited" things hang around in the shops for months or even years, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't snap it up if they see it and are at all into "post-rock". Fridge are on Output, who released the Underdog's Lisa Germano remix last year (actually it's the Underdog's label). In a similar style (but with vocals) either of the 10" EPs by Appliance is worth picking up, they are soon to release something on Earworm. Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 03:32:42 PDT From: Gordon McEwen Subject: TRR/fridge/azusa/roy montgomery Fridge: Semaphore (CD/2LP, Output) The Lign 12" raised my expectations and so I was a little disappointed by this initially. A couple of the tracks definitely tread water but most are worth it and really are very good. I'd say it occupies a space somewhere between Tortoise on a good day and Mogwai - not as passionless as some Tortoise and with a far richer palette than Mogwai. Like Lign the styles vary throughout. Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 09:46:33 BST From: Sam W Jeffers Subject: future fridge releases. I'm not sure if this is the right place to do this but you all seem like nice folk and I'm beginning to think that I need to get some feedback. This is probably more relavant to UK readers but continue if you are paying extortionate import prices to listen to our records. It probably comprimises the bands integrity to talk so openly about hopes and fears but here goes: We just signed to a major. Polygram. MCA publishing. It seems we didn't stop to think. A fistful of notes was enough for us to leave full-time education and head for full-time music. We signed for five albums. Anyway there are some qusetions I need to ask. Does anybody think that 'post-rock'/instrumental has a chance of getting out of the minor leagues? Would you disown it if it did? We now have to sell 100,000 records, is this possible? DOes anybody else have major label experience in the post rock/instrumental scene? Anyway there are new records out soonish on our old label: Fridge 12" Orko/Distants 7" It's all on/Can't remember CD singles compilation - mainly for export. RIck Bass (My drums and uncleared samples record.) 12" Bass Drum - about 12 copies of. Four Tet (Kieran from the bands solo sampled rubbish) Album and single. More fridge stuff on piao!, Tiny superhero and Leaf. Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 07:17:52 -0400 From: Margaret Fiedler Subject: major labels/post rock I was just going to reply to Mr. Fridge directly, but then thought maybe some people on the list would find this interesting - sorry if you don't!= ! = - margaret Hi - I saw your post and thought I might give you some thoughts of mine. I've= had a lot of USA major label experiences (3 albums, 3 different majors) a= nd although I've been signed to an independent in the UK (Too Pure) for over= 6 years I'm afraid to say that the music business is very much a business -= indie or major - and there's a few things that you can do to ensure that you'll be making the music you want to make for as long as you want to ma= ke it. Basically, you will get dropped. Very few artists make it through all th= e albums of their contract - even indies require no less than five album deals. The way that contracts are structured with the money increasing s= o rapidly every album means that your sales will have to dramatically increase every release. As this usually is a much slower, building proce= ss usually someone in accounting will pull the plug - most likely after your= second album. Everyone gives you the benefit of the doubt when your firs= t album doesn't sell so it comes down to the performance of your second. = Even if this does OK, _OK_ does not pay back huge advances, recording budgets and massive amounts of tour support. Our last USA tour cost $70,000. That's on top of all the other recoupable expenses like actuall= y making the record and videos, touring Europe and the UK, remixes, etc. = There's no way in hell we will ever _begin_ to pay back what we owe. So change your mindset about owing money and having to sell 100,000 records (you most likely won't) - absolutely _everyone_ is in debt to their recor= d company, but that doesn't stop them making records while still given the chance. The best thing to do is make the records you want to make, take advantage of the fact that you are on a major because the promotion budge= t should be fairly good and have a good time. Tour in a big fuck-off bus. = Get taken out for dinner a lot. Don't let anyone try to change the kind = of record you make because they say you need to sell more. I've seen a lot = of people make shit records in a vain attempt to get played on US commercial= alternative radio and it's a dead-end street. It's frightening how musicians can begin to internalize the record company's desires. Since you're going to be dropped at some point, _buy a lot of equipment_.= = Get a home studio. This is _so_ important. Then, whatever happens, you can make your records for free at home forever. Start your own label. = Sell the equipment for cash. Whatever - you've got something at the end = of the deal. Tell the record company that you want to record your first alb= um yourselves and get as much cash for gear as you can (it depends whether recording budgets are part of your advances, if they aren't, get more mon= ey to buy equipment). Re. your questions about instrumental post rock being able to sell vast amounts of records, I can't really see it happening. Tortoise are _by fa= r_ the biggest band in this genre - their second LP sold 25,000 in the USA a= nd probably did about double worldwide. And that was riding on absolutely _immense_ critical acclaim, which has since turned on them. I think they= were the one band to get through the critical wall - as far as most criti= cs were concerned they were the first and last word in post rock. Next. There are four ways to sell records: press (not just the odd piece, not just MM/NME - I mean magazine covers, national newspapers); radio/video (mainstream=3Dsales and that's completely out of the question for post ro= ck - John Peel and US college radio _do not_ sell records, no matter how inventive and exciting their playlists); touring (doesn't really happen these days - can't think of the last time anyone broke by extensive touring, unless they were on some crustie/festival tip) and finally club play - but let's face it - no matter how groove oriented your records are= , clubs don't play post rock. Yes, you can have massive success with a vocaless club record, but it's usually of the dodgy house variety. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh.... But I do have a lot of experience - hell= , the term post rock was invented by Simon Reynolds for a 1994 MM piece abo= ut Laika, God and Scorn. The Maker wouldn't let him write a piece about us = so he "invented" a scene so that he could get the space. A two-page spread and a genre was born. I don't think, at this point in time, post rock has much of a chance of getting out of the minor leagues. I think the lack of vocals has a lot t= o do with it - it's not really the lack of singing as much of a lack of lyric-ness (not words - I mean personal, lyrical _performances_). Most post rock seems to just _not have vocals_, which is a negative thing - li= ke people couldn't be bothered. A lot of it seems to lack impassioned musicianship, which is what makes up for the lack a vocal personality in jazz. But this is my opinion, my experience. You'll no doubt have different views. But best of luck and enjoy it to the fullest - all the travelling= , gigging and people you meet is really god's gift of a lifestyle and you will rarely have to wake up before noon. So have a good time! - margaret laika@compuserve.com Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 15:24:49 BST From: Sam W Jeffers Subject: It's the guy from fridge again. I'd just like to thank everybody who responded to the moaning mail I posted on debut a couple of days ago. I didn't mean to make it sound as if i'd made a heinous error and I'm really quite happy with the decision. We get a studio of our own and a chance to record as much as we want. It'll be really fantastic. I'd also like to thank those who like the records for saying so and those who don't for keeping quiet. Anyway, I got a little slap on the wrist yesterday from Output records (the one who's releasing the next single) for blurting it out because the new label has some plans to announce it 'properly' and the old label fears that it'll damage sales of their records. So all I ask is that nobody on pure-impure tells CNN or Reuters or TAS or any of the other major world news organisations. I know this is the internet and that there is a site dedicated to these mails we all write, but lets hope for a little privacy huh. Thanks, and all those who like the records remember to buy them on Output Recordings of london limited. Sam Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 23:14:15 EDT From: Riouxs@aol.com Subject: Rioux's Records Update #24 (1/2) FRIDGE - Sevens And Twelves 2xCD (Output) $18.75 "Awesome double CD compilation from one of the UK's most happening new bands. Compared by most to a mixture of Mogwai, Aphex and Tortoise. This collection brints together almost all of their recordings to date, none of which have been previously available on CD. Includes all previously released vinyl-only singles, many deleted/rare." Includes tracks from The Anglepoised EP, Lign 7", Orko, 12"/7" and Asthama 12". Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 22:53:15 +0100 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Post-rock corner Second is a compilation of Fridge sevens and twelves, called "Sevens and Twelves" - I think I'm right in saying that everything from before they signed (recently) to Go! Beat is here. The EPs "Anglepoised", "Lign" (12" and 7" tracks), "Orko" (ditto), the "Lojen" 7", and the track from the split 12" with Add N to X. Double CD (getting on for two hours long) in a typically minimalist case - transparent box with the necessary information printed on the box itself. For those of you who haven't heard Fridge, "Britain's answer to Tortoise" is an over-used comparison but not totally inaccurate. Less jazzy, more rhythmic, and playing with a wider palette of sound than Tortoise - the title track of "Anglepoised" is almost worth the price on its own. On the Output label, who also did that Lisa Germano remix a year or two ago. From: "Andrew Norman" Subject: Re: Newish AMP stuff etc. Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 23:36:08 -0000 Also worth looking out for: Fridge's "Sevens and Twelves" compilation of all the previously vinyl-only singles and EPs on two CDs (new split single with Portal out this week on Earworm)