Fred Again..

[Narel]

Anyone else checked this guy out? I was intrigued after a BBC news story about his music production methods, sample sources and being mentored by Eno. Really really really good, lots of emotive minor chords and exquisitely produced. Sort of sounds like Burial, but not as low fi, The Streets, but not as urban or DIY funnelled through house, breaks, garage and ambient. Well worth a listen. Go straight to the albums Actual Life 1, 2 and 3.

Example of one of my favs:

 

[Hensmon]

I joked with my pal last week that he made Trance cool again for the Friday night radio one crowd in the UK. None of my friends are big followers or lovers of Trance but they are all sending me his Strong track. Interesting that he was mentored by eno, as cant hear any influence whatsoever in this track or that one. Can hear a bit of burial yeah, bit more commercial. Maybe more a Bicep kind of act?

 

[Daysleeper]

Sounds overly simplistic and flat for me unfortunaly. Almost borderline.....stupid? It totally lacks the depth and detail of burial. This sounds like a production course 1.1 somehow. It's actually really bad haha.

All his tracks sounds utterly medicare to me. It's just a mishmash of samples put together in the most basic way. If you thought bicep was monotone this is the tonedeaf/beatdeaf version of that. I don't get the hype is what im trying to say haha

 

[Redrot]

I don't understand the craze behind him. Pretty much everything I've heard is completely banal to me. Basic pop tunes with better production, maybe there's something good going on from a production perspective, but compositionally, it's pop and not particularly interesting pop like, say, SOPHIE, to me. Just sounds like a guy with good production chops trying to make top 40.

 

[Progrez]

No thanks sorry not for me. It sounds strange to me especially with the vocals.

 

[erickUO]

Sounds like popier and less housey version of Disclosure.
It's easy listening, so I can see why he's popular.

 

[Archon]

Honestly heard nothing extraordinary in this. Somebody mentioned Bicep, who are much better IMO in this style, and their tracks are somehow more complete and less over-the-top or annoying. Don't really hear the producer ear-candy in this either.

 

[jetflag]

Playfull edm without it being too Overly pop. Had his boilerroom set on the other day and it was a decent listen.

He reminds me of a local Dj team from my Uni back in the day who sort of had the same act, mixing various styles within their set.

Brings back memories for me and I can see the appeal for a larger audience,


Not for your die-hard trance listener though.

 

[LostLegend]

I’ve enjoyed what I’ve heard from him so far to be honest. Nothing truly ground breaking but some enjoyable head-nodders in his catalogue.

Although I saw someone on Twitter call him “the Coldplay of dance music” and now I can’t get that comparison out of my head

 

[Magnevi]

^ I'd say the Coldplay of dance music... is Armin van Buuren though. Lol.

As for "Fred again", no idea. I don't listen to this kind of music. Too experimental / weird for me, haha.

 

[Narel]

Mixes bag views, mostly nope . Bicep comparisons are fair, somewhat embarrassed to have not made that connection given how much I like Bicep. I love the sample chops and he uses chord progressions I like, I think thats what has drawn me in.

 

[Hoplite]

Was expecting a car crash from the replies but the track in OP is actually alright. Will check more of his backlog

 

[Redrot]

Mixes bag views, mostly nope . Bicep comparisons are fair, somewhat embarrassed to have not made that connection given how much I like Bicep. I love the sample chops and he uses chord progressions I like, I think thats what has drawn me in.

I can agree with the Bicep comparison. Strong production and taking influences from more traditionally "underground" (i.e. not top 40) production, tropes, soundsets, etc. and simplifying the formula up, making it more listener-friendly.

I'm not going to say it's "bad" by any means, the production is quite strong and the songwriting has the same DNA as any pop banger, I just don't get why everyone's obsessed over him. I get why people who maybe haven't gotten into the deeper scenes and heard more sophisticated stuff may like it, but I know quite a few people who are pickier than me and have very niche tastes who are also all about it.

 

[Narel]

I can agree with the Bicep comparison. Strong production and taking influences from more traditionally "underground" (i.e. not top 40) production, tropes, soundsets, etc. and simplifying the formula up, making it more listener-friendly.

I'm not going to say it's "bad" by any means, the production is quite strong and the songwriting has the same DNA as any pop banger, I just don't get why everyone's obsessed over him. I get why people who maybe haven't gotten into the deeper scenes and heard more sophisticated stuff may like it, but I know quite a few people who are pickier than me and have very niche tastes who are also all about it.

I didn’t know there was a big obsession with this dude. Just saw the BBC story and checked his stuff out and liked it. I did note the hefty Spotify monthly listeners though

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

the radio plays in my work all the time so i'm pretty familiar with his music and its actualy not so bad at all! I really hated the dancey radio/tv stuff in the 00's and 10's and its so fine to hear some good pop music in the radios again.)

our national radio station plays: Roze (Forgive), Billie (Loving Arms), Angie (I've Been Lost), Danielle (Smile On My Face), Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing) etc

 

[Recharge]

This song is actually very nice reminds me of the new Everything But The Girl song I shared, but at a higher tempo.

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

Interesting that he was mentored by eno, as cant hear any influence whatsoever in this track or that one.

few days ago Brian and Fred released an album together

Fred again.. and Brian Eno - Secret Life (Full Album)

 

[LostLegend]

He's headlining the the 'Other' stage at Glastonbury next month on the friday night.
I'm going and will probably go and see his set as it's Arctic Monkey's on the Pyramid stage and everything they've done after the first album bores the crap out of me

Bicep also playing again this year so will probably try and get over to see them as well.
No Chemical Brothers this year though

 

[leon92]

He's headlining the the 'Other' stage at Glastonbury next month on the friday night.
I'm going and will probably go and see his set as it's Arctic Monkey's on the Pyramid stage and everything they've done after the first album bores the crap out of me

Bicep also playing again this year so will probably try and get over to see them as well.
No Chemical Brothers this year though

Arctic Monkeys in Amsterdam were a blast though, they played a nice mix of tracks from different albums though ;p.

the radio plays in my work all the time so i'm pretty familiar with his music and its actualy not so bad at all! I really hated the dancey radio/tv stuff in the 00's and 10's and its so fine to hear some good pop music in the radios again.)

our national radio station plays: Roze (Forgive), Billie (Loving Arms), Angie (I've Been Lost), Danielle (Smile On My Face), Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing) etc

That track is a copy of Karen Overton's Your Loving Arms (on ISOS 4) which actually is credited to Billie Ray Martin who is featured on ISOS 1 with Honey ;p.

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

Arctic Monkeys in Amsterdam were a blast though, they played a nice mix of tracks from different albums though ;p.


That track is a copy of Karen Overton's Your Loving Arms (on ISOS 4) which actually is credited to Billie Ray Martin who is featured on ISOS 1 with Honey ;p.

ofc cover of 'Billie Ray Martin - Your Loving Arms'

Billie Ray Martin - Your Loving Arms