Frak – Primitive Drums
Frak make their debut on Lux with Primitive Drums. The Swiss label’s back catalogue is full of releases from emerging artists and producers like Echo 106, Joe Drive and CCO, but this Swedish trio is different. Frak have been recording and performing since the late ’80s and have put out countless albums. While it’s true that they have only started to enjoy a higher profile in the past few years after a long period spent toiling in obscurity, Primitive Drums doesn’t mark a radical shift.
Indeed, all of these tracks sound like they’ve evolved from a studio jam, or one of their theatrical live shows, with an emphasis on heavy duty rhythms and immersive, almost psychedelic sound effects. “Radiant Dominance”, which kick starts the release, begins with clicky beats and snappy percussion. Soon afterwards, waves of noisy interference and a lurching bass steal the listener’s attention and it’s only near the end of the arrangement that Frak swing back towards high end squiggles.
“Southern East Light” follows a similar type of trajectory with distorted drums supporting waves of grimy, acid riffs that near the end, occasionally, let in some snippets of light. Meanwhile,”Lance Stroboscopes” is the most functional track; over the course of nearly eight minutes, the only musical element is a lo-fi synth riff that withers intermittently over the dense, acid-frazzled rhythm track.
Gone are the distorted kicks and noisy riffs in “Flashrock”, replaced by tight 808s and melodic, fluid piano keys. However, it wouldn’t be a Frak track without some sonic perversion, no matter how slight, and the hum of microphone feedback hovers over the arrangement like flies circling a slice of over-ripened fruit. Anyway, such melodic flights of fancy are only a diversion and as always is the case in Frak’s world. The sound of scuzzy, freeform techno prevails.
Richard Brophy
Tracklisting:
A1. Radiant Dominance
A2. Southern East Light
B1. Lance Stroboscopes
B2. Flashrock