Cheap at Half the Price
Fred Frith · 1983
40 min · 13 tracks · jazz fusion
An eclectic blend of intricate melodies and spontaneous rhythms that challenge conventional structures while maintaining a playful spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
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Some Clouds Don't — This opening track sets the tone with its playful instrumentation and unconventional structure, encapsulating Frith's artistic vision.
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Cap the Knife — With its sharp contrasts and dynamic shifts, this track exemplifies Frith's ability to blend dissonance with melody in an engaging way.
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Evolution — This track showcases Frith's experimental guitar work, illustrating his skill at merging complex arrangements with accessible hooks.
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Heart Bares — A longer piece that evolves through various themes, demonstrating Frith's capacity for narrative development within instrumental music.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- quirky insights into everyday life
- short bursts of playful energy
- unexpected twists and turns
- whimsical explorations of emotion
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- want straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Represents a solid entry in Frith's catalog but isn't widely recognized as essential.
- Career context
- Released in 1983, Cheap at Half the Price marked Fred Frith's first solo album after leaving the influential group Henry Cow. The album showcases his unique approach to combining rock and jazz elements, establishing Frith as a prominent figure in the experimental music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Henry Cow· Robert Wyatt· Can
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Some Clouds Don't 3:13
- 2 Cap the Knife 2:49
- 3 Evolution 3:23
- 4 Too Much Too Little 2:09
- 5 The Welcome 2:29
- 6 Same Old Me 3:07
- 7 Some Clouds Do 2:50
- 8 Instant Party 1:52
- 9 Walking Song 3:16
- 10 Flying in the Face of Facts 2:39
- 11 Heart Bares 6:34
- 12 Absent Friends 4:00
- 13 The Great Healer 2:10
What to play next
With Enemies Like These, Who Needs Friends?
1987
Continues the experimental sound and complex structures from the current album.
Who Needs Enemies?
1983
Sets up the themes and style leading into 'Cheap at Half the Price'.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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