Peppermint Rock - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Thompson, Richard [
To the Rain - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, French, John
Lizard's Tail - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Frith, Fred
March of the Cosmetic Surgeons - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Thompson, Richard [
Suzanne - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, French, John
Quick Sign - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Frith, Fred
Begging Bowl - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Thompson, Richard [
Kalo Takariva - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Kaiser, Henry
Invisible Means - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Adams, Bob [Bass]
Loch Lomond - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Traditional
Play with Fire [Live][#] - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Phelge, Nanker
The Book of Lost Dreams - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Kaiser, Henry
Days of Our Lives - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Kaiser, Henry
The Evening News - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, French, John
The Nearsighted Heron - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Kaiser, Henry
Now That I Am Dead - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Blair
Hunting Sunsets - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, French, John
Killing Jar [*] - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, Thompson, Richard [
2008 digitally remastered edition of the quartet's sophomore album featuring one bonus live track. Invisible Means was the second oddball masterpiece from four of the world's finest experimental master musicians, original... more »ly released in 1990. Together John French, Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson conjure up a heady mix, covering a bewildering variety of genres, from Folk and R&B to avant-garde and comic opera. Underpinning the whole album is the extraordinary level of their musicianship. Fledg'ling Records.« less
2008 digitally remastered edition of the quartet's sophomore album featuring one bonus live track. Invisible Means was the second oddball masterpiece from four of the world's finest experimental master musicians, originally released in 1990. Together John French, Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson conjure up a heady mix, covering a bewildering variety of genres, from Folk and R&B to avant-garde and comic opera. Underpinning the whole album is the extraordinary level of their musicianship. Fledg'ling Records.
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 10/13/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The second album from the cult "Supergroup" of John French (Captain Beefheart), Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson is nearly as catchy and consistent as its predecessor. Opening with Thompson's "Peppermint Rock" which features a stumbling drum beat and the chiming guitars of John French's "To The Rain" "Invisible Means" is a mixture of genres. "Now That I Am Dead" by John French and Donna Blair French continues the humorous vein that began with the band's bizarre cover of "Surfin' U.S.A." It's a highlight and was later adopted by Thompson for performance in some of his shows.
Thompson's mini-rock opera "March of the Cosmetic Surgeons" out does Pete Townshend for humor and clocking in at less than six minutes doesn't wear out its welcome. The traditional "Loch Lomond" gets a nice rocking interpretation while the album closes with Richard Thompson's disturbing and powerful "Killing Jar".
I keep hoping that this quartet might get together and release a third album. You never know quite what to expect from these talented musicians."