Fred once more.. calls Brian Eno his mentor, however the legendary musician and ambient pioneer sees it as extra of a two-way road. Launched by a pal of his who occurred to be Eno’s neighbour, 16-year-old Fred Gibson began attending a few of Eno’s legendary a capella performances at his residence, happening to turn into his unofficial protégé.
Within the following years, Eno gave Gibson his first manufacturing credit on his two 2014 LPs with Underworld’s Karl Hyde, and supplied the push wanted for Fred to transcend his profitable profession as a songwriter and producer and turn into Fred once more.., the title underneath which he has quick turn into essentially the most in-demand producer on the planet. He has since co-written songs with Ed Sheeran and Romy and seen appreciable success, although has confronted ‘nepo child’ accusations for his hyperlinks to the British aristocracy.
In addition to many metaphorical presents given from Eno to Gibson on this leg-up course of, one literal current was a file containing 1000’s of drone sounds, a lot of which served as the bottom for songs that make up his vastly profitable ‘Precise Life’ collection. ‘Secret Life’, Fred and Eno’s first full-length collaboration, was made in the same time interval to the three ‘Precise Life’ LPs, and serves as considerably of a Fred once more.. origin story.
Throughout the album – launched on 4 Tet‘s Textual content Information – Eno lets his protégé take the narrative reins, laying soundscapes behind Fred’s soft-focus storytelling. At sure instances, little snippets of samples additionally used on ‘Precise Life’ creep into the combination, bringing ‘Secret Life’ into the immersive Fred once more.. universe just like the type of easter eggs Taylor Swift followers scour her albums for. For diehard followers, it’s a satisfying peek underneath the hood of his inventive course of.
However this prior information feels very important to the enjoyment of ‘Secret Life’, with the narrative substance which drives the album integral to its make-up. The album’s full energy is just launched although when understanding the connection between the 2 artists, and what got here earlier than. For these within the know, it fills in satisfying gaps; for newcomers or Eno followers unfamiliar with Fred’s work, it’d be simple to really feel shut out, despite the immersive nature of the venture.
Whereas most of ‘Secret Life’ hovers round in an ambient fog with a line or two of vocals right here and there, the gorgeous and chilling ‘Sufficient’ is a welcome dose of melody. ‘Cmon’ then greatest transmits the push and pull between Eno and Gibson, with the latter making an attempt to direct the monitor in the direction of the dancefloor whereas the previous retains it on a stage.
Launched only a few weeks after Fred closed Coachella with a set of thunderous dance and techno alongside 4 Tet and Skrillex, ‘Secret Life’ sees him handbrake flip as soon as once more into ambient haze, assisted by the person who made all of it occur for him. This shock album – regardless of its frequent magnificence – works greatest as a puzzle piece fairly than a standout document in its personal proper.
Particulars
- Launch date: Could 5, 2023
- File label: Textual content Information
