So I after more careful listens I must say I like both albums much more than I did on the first hearing. I haven't really explored thoroughly Fred Frith's other work aside from Henry Cow and Art Bears, so Skeleton Crew came as a real surprise. I didn't expect it to be so post-punk-ish and quirky. The best thing about it is the overall looseness and humor. But, on the other hand, what still bothers me a bit is a feeling of somewhat forced spontaneity. Skeleton Crew with its very skillful musicians lacks a certain natural bizarreness of some adventurous post-punk bands, like Pere Ubu for example. That said, Skeleton Crew is not exactly post-punk, but I just can't help but feel that spirit.
I've got 1990. version of this compilation and as I understand both albums are missing a song or two. So Learn to Talk with 10 songs here is a more uneven album of the two. I like it more now with two more hearings, but it still feels very disconnected and fragmented. That's not necessarily a bad thing and it's amazing that it's created with only two members (playing many instruments between them). But, for all its looseness there should be some unifying force beneath that I feel is lacking. The perfect example of this is the first song that has excellent parts and sections, but it's not more than the sum of its parts. However, there are a couple of songs that hit the right balance between disconnection and unity like the excellent 'Not My Shoes', 'We're Still Free', a solid 'The Way Things Fall' and especially my favorite, heavy on strings 'Factory Song'. There are some interesting tracks that serve more like abstract passages like 'Victoryville'. Overall, this is an interesting, solid album that I can see myself liking it more with every further listen.
I said I liked The Country of Blinds more. Well, I'm not so sure now. It is definitely more coherent and richer album as they were a trio here. It has more layers and interplay and although the songs are still very off-kilter with a lot of unexpected changes, everything just flows smoother here. It seems like this album is more comfortable in its bizarreness. The songs on both albums seem like they're going to fall apart, but whereas on the first album I felt it was because of the lack of direction, here it looks like a style. I'd like to highlight a few songs: the bizarre opener 'The Country of Blinds', 'Dead Sheep', totally crazy 'Man or Monkey', an excellent 'Foot In Hole' and interesting 'Hot Field' which feels like its loose continuation. I noticed that this album has even more folk elements than the first one.
So why am I not sure if I like the second album more? I just think that The Country of Blinds has more solid songs, but its best moments are not really higher than those high points on Learn to Talk. There is a certain charm in its disjointedness. Not to mention that my favorite song from the whole comp. is from the first album, 'Factory Song'. As for rating the whole thing, two albums as one,...hmm, it's between solid and very good with a potential to rise. I knew I would need more options. Oh well, since I'm in a good mood I'd say it's very good.
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