FREQ

Although "Freq" was Robert Calvert's fourth release, in reality it is the second album of his second phase of solo works, the first two albums being released about 10 years previously.

The title disguises what is an overtly political theme, the accompanying sleeve notes (to the CD re-release) talking of Margaret Thatcher ("Hitler without the moustache" according to track 2) "destroying the challenge of the unions". Specifically, the album focuses on the British miners strike of 1984-85. Calvert was active in his support of the miners, both through the release of this album, and through benefit concerts.

The wider theme of the album is the mechanisation of industry, and the consequent human cost. The opening track "Ned Ludd" examines the efforts of the Luddites to stall the inevitable progress of the automation of manual labour. Thus the music has a very mechanical feel to it, with echoes of KRAFTWERK in the dominant synthesiser motifs which accompany Calvert's monotone vocals. Between the actual songs are tracks entitled "Talk 1-5", which report sound-bites from the miners strike to the accompaniment of processed mechanical sounds.

Song titles such as "Picket line", All the machines are quiet" and "Work song" need little explanation or lyrical quotation, Calvert's politics are worn on his sleeve.

Musically, the album is not an easy listen. Apart from the occasional respite of (musically) lighter songs such as "All the machines are quiet", whose chorus has a surprisingly 60's pop feel, the sound is heavy and sparse in melody.

Two bonus tracks are added to the CD editions. These formed the A and B sides of a 1980 single by Calvert, and as such bear little relation to the rest of the album in either concept or time. "Lord of the hornets", the A side, is a rather bland slice of early 80's electronic pop rock, similar to the work of bands such as M and Devo. "The greenfly and the rose" is a pleasantly lilting song with processed vocals.

Without the bonus tracks, "Freq" is a woefully short album, running for just 34 minutes. While it stands as a historical document which reflects the polarised attitudes of the troubled mid 1980's, musically it is lacking in depth or inspiration.

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