Clearing

Released in 2001, Clearing represents a pivotal moment in Fred Frith's solo discography, focusing intensely on his 'prepared guitar' methodology. Unlike his more collaborative or rock-oriented projects, this album is a stark, solo exploration of the guitar's potential as a multi-timbral sound generator. Recorded with a focus on the physical interaction between the performer and the instrument, the tracks often feature Frith playing the guitar horizontally on a table, using plectrums, metal rods, and other objects to elicit sounds that range from industrial clatter to delicate, bell-like tones. The album is characterized by its use of silence and its avoidance of traditional harmony, placing it firmly within the lineage of avant-garde improvisation and musique concrète. It serves as a definitive example of Frith's ability to find music in the 'noise' of mechanical processes.