From The Back Of The Fridge

Early Output 1996-1998
Fridge
Temporary Residence, 2009
3.5 stars

The material found on Early Output was, as the title says, recorded over a decade ago, and the time since has seen the band and its members all but master this particular brand of experimental, electronic-flecked instrumental music. With Early Output, long-time fans of Fridge, or those of offshoots Fout Tet and Adem, will relish the opportunity to hear where it all started. For the most part this compilation is an impressive, assured production, with only a few moments where it falls into the familiar post-rock traps of self-indulgence, daggy electronica and meandering nothingness. That’s not to say that meandering experimental music is without value – 15-minute Anglepoised is a blessed-out epic with a drum machine spine, reminiscent of some of the nicer moments on 2007’s The Sun LP. Real instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums and the occasional string) forms the basis for the majority of tracks, with the members’ experimental tendencies explored in fractured drumbeats, skewed hooks and unexpected (but still pretty) electronic flourishes. Today these guys are amongst Britain’s most inventive musical talents – Early Output proves they always were.

Published in mX, Thursday May 7, 2009.