URCKarm Rec. Hop-Frog's Refrigerator Mothers : Ghosts of a Primitive World (US,2003-2006)**°°
The term "refrigerator mother" was coined to describe a parent, whose cold, uncaring style so traumatized her child that it retreated into autism. Carl Off : “Refrigerator Mothers or ‘emotionally cold mothers’ was the term commonly used as the reason children had autism up through the 1960's. Coming from broken homes and not fitting into the general mould of society this primitive ideal really appealed to us. Hop-frog's Refrigerator Mothers is one of many projects under the Hop-Frog collective umbrella. We are a tight community of artists focussing on experimental and psychedelic arts. We also have a love for music of indigenous & folk music from around the world and attempt to weave a new experimental sound through those influences.”
Hop-Frog is a story from E. A. Poe, about a fool who takes revenge on the king after lack of respect.
This is a collection of recordings between 2003 and 2006. I like the group especially when there are enough instruments and people around, like in the first half of the album. The first two tracks hang together, and start with a found-sound-combination of a looping rhythm in a ride-the-camel-in-a-caravan sphere, mixed with harmonica, amplified guitar in semi-eastern chords, with strange keyboards sounds, some down-the-belly dance hand percussion, and some wahhweih… vocals. It is a rather psychedelic sound improvisation, in a ritualistic way as while travelling. In the second part I hear processed tabla loops, space sounds keyboards, a sound fragment of Arab singing, keyboard drones, with watery and other strange sounds. It has a short slightly annoying keyboard sounds part, then adds Middle Eastern bells rhythms, more Middle Eastern chords on guitars, and acoustic rhythms. The third track starts with an overload lead of North African rhythms and bass strings, mixed with other samples and spoken word,.. The fourth track is different and darker, with rather aggressive conscious words of “I’m this and that” to peak for that everybody can be born as anybody and everywhere,.. This track with ritualistic percussion, wailing guitars and prepared guitar repetitions sounds very much like Virgin Prunes (from the time of their most popular album). The left over 4 other tracks are expressed much simpler and a bit more stagnant in sphere, exploring a fundament of primitive prepared sounds on different guitars or other plucked instruments, with ritualistic hand percussion and with the addition of either some vocal experiment, scraped material chimes, echoing bells, noisy sounds, or bar piano.
The instruments used here were kitchen sink, juno 1, juno 106, cura cumbus, melodica, sh-101, pipes, chains, industrial filter device, electric guitar, twelve string acoustic guitar, electric bass, soft synths, computers, frame drum, floor tom, various cymbals and bells, harmonium, effects processors, Ruan (moon guitar), prepared acoustic guitar, prepared piano.
Refrigerator Mothers is a part of the Hop-Frog’s collective of experimenting musicians. On this release this is Carl.F.Off, e.loi, Hermit the Flog, Denise Owens, Jewelie Off, Karen Crews, Katlyn Off, Matt McGowin, Thee Honey Twin and B Tin White, with guests Benjamin Mahoney, Jason Savvy and Paul Glenn Clabough.
Other projects included hop-frog's drum jester devotional, Catastrophic Mermaids on Parade & the Master Musicians of hop-frog.
