Freq
Encyclopedia
Freq is a 1985 album by English singer and musician Robert Calvert
.
It was recorded during the time of the UK miners' strike (1984-1985) and in between the songs it features snippets of field recordings by Calvert with miners on a picket line, with Calvert displaying his sympathy for their cause.
The lyrics cover various themes, only "All the Machines are Quiet" and "Picket Line" being explicitly concerned with the miners' strike. "Ned Ludd" is a reworking of a track which was originally part of his stage play The Kid from Silicon Gulch;http://www.aural-innovations.com/robertcalvert/works/kid/kid.htm taking its name from Ned Ludd
who inspired the luddite
movement in 1811, it deals with Calvert's ambivalent attitude to the impact of new technologies on peoples lives.
The music saw a movement away from his previous work as a frontman of a rock
group towards a minimalist
electronic
sound.
The tracks "Lord of the Hornets" and "The Greenfly and the Rose" were recorded as demos in preparation for Calvert's Hype
album, but they were issued as a single by Flicknife Records (FLS204) in 1980. The band used for this session is a unique combination of former Hawkwind
members, except for Gary Cooper who was Calvert's literary agent
at the time.
Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
.
It was recorded during the time of the UK miners' strike (1984-1985) and in between the songs it features snippets of field recordings by Calvert with miners on a picket line, with Calvert displaying his sympathy for their cause.
The lyrics cover various themes, only "All the Machines are Quiet" and "Picket Line" being explicitly concerned with the miners' strike. "Ned Ludd" is a reworking of a track which was originally part of his stage play The Kid from Silicon Gulch;http://www.aural-innovations.com/robertcalvert/works/kid/kid.htm taking its name from Ned Ludd
Ned Ludd
Ned Ludd or Ned Lud, possibly born Ned Ludlam or Edward Ludlam, is the person from whom the Luddites took their name. His actions inspirated the folkloric character of Captain Ludd, also known as King Ludd or General Ludd, who became the Luddites' alleged leader and founder.It is believed that Ned...
who inspired the luddite
Luddite
The Luddites were a social movement of 19th-century English textile artisans who protested – often by destroying mechanised looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt were leaving them without work and changing their way of life...
movement in 1811, it deals with Calvert's ambivalent attitude to the impact of new technologies on peoples lives.
The music saw a movement away from his previous work as a frontman of a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group towards a minimalist
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
sound.
The tracks "Lord of the Hornets" and "The Greenfly and the Rose" were recorded as demos in preparation for Calvert's Hype
Hype (album)
Hype is a 1981 album by singer Robert Calvert, the former frontman of British space-rock band Hawkwind.It is subtitled The Songs Of Tom Mahler as a tie-in to Calvert's only published novel Hype, the novel being a fictional account of the rise and death of a rock star.The musicians used for the...
album, but they were issued as a single by Flicknife Records (FLS204) in 1980. The band used for this session is a unique combination of former Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
members, except for Gary Cooper who was Calvert's literary agent
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
at the time.
Side 1
- "Ned Ludd" – 4:57
- (talk) – 1:31
- "Acid Rain" – 5:06
- (talk) – 2:37
- "All The Machines Are Quiet" – 5:33
Side 2
- (talk) – 1:12
- "Picket Line" – 3:27
- (talk) – 1:06
- "The Cool Courage Of The Bomb Squad Officers" – 5:21
- (talk) – 1:06
- "Work Song" – 3:54
Original album
- Robert Calvert – Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer
- Jill Riches – Keyboards, vocals
- PG Martin – Guitars
- Ray Davis – Programming
Bonus tracks
- Robert Calvert – Vocals
- Huw Lloyd-LangtonHuw Lloyd-LangtonHuw Lloyd-Langton is an English guitarist, best known as the guitarist for Hawkwind. He also had his own band, the Lloyd Langton Group with bass player Kenny Wilson and drummer John Clark , and is the session lead guitarist for UK band The Meads of Asphodel.As a member of Hawkwind he appeared on...
– Guitar - Steve SwindellsSteve SwindellsSteve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
– Keyboards - Gary Cooper – Bass on "The Greenfly And The Rose"
- Lemmy – Bass on "Lord Of The Hornets"
- Simon KingSimon King (musician)Simon King is an English drummer most noted for his work with Hawkwind. He was described in 1985 by British rock magazine 'Sounds' as 'definitive rock drummer.'...
– Drums
Credits
- Recorded: August 1984, Computer Music Studio, London
- Matt Green: Remix on Cleopatra version.
Release history
- January 1985: UK, Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
(SHARP 021), vinyl - June 1992: UK, Anagram Records (CDMGRAM55), CD with bonus tracks
- June 1994: US, Cleopatra RecordsCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
(CLEO 9467-2), CD with bonus tracks
External links
- aural-innovations.com – lyrics