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The Stone: Issue Two

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The Stone: Issue Two
Live album by
ReleasedFebruary 2007 (2007-02)
Recorded15 December 2006
VenueThe Stone, New York City
GenreExperimental music, free improvisation
Length50:44
LabelTzadik (US)
ProducerJohn Zorn
Fred Frith and Chris Cutler chronology
2 Gentlemen in Verona
(2004)
The Stone: Issue Two
(2007)
Fred Frith chronology
The Happy End Problem
(2006)
The Stone: Issue Two
(2007)
The Sugar Factory
(2007)
The Stone Benefit series chronology
The Stone: Issue One
(2006)
The Stone: Issue Two
(2007)
The Stone: Issue Three
(2008)

The Stone: Issue Two is a 2007 live album of improvised experimental music by Fred Frith and Chris Cutler. It was recorded at The Stone in New York City on 15 December 2006 and was one of four CDs released between 2006 and 2010 by Tzadik Records to raise funds for The Stone.[1][2][3] It was Frith and Cutler's fourth collaborative album.

The Stone Benefit series

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All titles released by Tzadik Records.[3]

Background

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Frith and Cutler were members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow (1968–1978), and their collaboration at The Stone on 15 December 2006 took place during the so-called "Henry Cow reunion" weekend[1][4] when they reunited with bandmate Tim Hodgkinson.[a]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazzfavorable[4]
AllMusic[7]

In a review of The Stone: Issue Two at AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos described Cutler's performance as "intriguing" "electronic colorations", and Frith's as "challenging, commanding, and demonstrative". He said this is a recording that careful listening to will demonstrate "the sense of passion, wonder, and depth these two have displayed in their music since their days with Henry Cow, but digging deeper than ever".[7]

Marc Medwin wrote in a review in All About Jazz that compared to Frith and Cutler's earlier collaborations, this set is "rich and full" and makes it sound like there are more than just two of them. Medwin added that this album is a worthy addition to The Stone's benefit series.[4]

Reviewing the album in The Wire, Barry Witherden described the music as "fascinating, bemusing, hypnotic, seductive, sometimes disturbing, sometimes consoling, sometimes chaotic, ultimately revealing a mysterious, elemental beauty".[8] He said one of the joys of listening to "sound-sculpting" like this is "trying to work out ... not only who plays what but how the sounds are created". Witherden stated that what makes this album work is Frith and Cutler's "imagination and control of design, trajectory and texture".[8]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Live at the Stone"Fred Frith, Chris Cutler50:44

Sources: Liner notes,[2] Discogs,[9] Fred Frith discography.[10]

Personnel

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Sources: Liner notes,[2] Discogs,[9] Fred Frith discography.[10]

Sound and artwork

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  • Recorded by Robert O'Haire
  • Mastered by Scott Hull
  • Produced by John Zorn
  • Photography by Scott Friedlander
  • Designed by Heung-Heung Chin

Sources: Liner notes,[2] Discogs,[9] Fred Frith discography.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ During the trio's performance on 16 December 2006[5] Frith told the audience "This is not Henry Cow!" and dedicated the session to the other band members.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fred Frith / Chris Cutler : The Stone: Issue Two". Tzadik Records. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Tzadik Records (2006). The Stone: Issue Two (CD liner notes). Fred Frith and Chris Cutler.
  3. ^ a b "The Stone: Issues 1–4". Discogs. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Medwin, Marc (15 March 2007). "Fred Frith/Chris Cutler: Issue Two". All About Jazz. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  5. ^ "December 2006 at the Stone". The Stone. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  6. ^ "PUNKCAST#1086: Fred Frith – Tim Hodgkinson – Chris Cutler, The Stone NYC, Dec 16 2006". punkcast.com. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b Nastos, Michael G.. The Stone: Issue Two at AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  8. ^ a b Witherden, Barry (June 2007). "Fred Frith & Chris Cutler: The Stone Issue Two". The Wire. No. 280. p. 46. ISSN 0952-0686.
  9. ^ a b c "Fred Frith / Chris Cutler – The Stone: Issue Two". Discogs. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Ramond, Michel; Roussel, Patrice; Vuilleumier, Stephane. "Discography of Fred Frith". New York Downtown Scene and Other Miscellaneous Discographies. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2017.