Saturday, February 17, 2007

Chris Fraser : Archaeology

The self-released solo album of Chris Fraser (guitarist of Unrest, Work & Play) from 1989. Home recordings of songs, firmly in the great U,W&P style, slowly revealing layers of depth after repeated listening. All instruments & singing by Chris. No commerce, just sincere self-expression & talent. No one makes albums like this any more...

Archae

18 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent post - I love Work Rest Play. Can anyone supply a cover scan?

9:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it's in the process. still searching for a suitable scanner to do the album sleeve...
z

12:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How did you get this? I wasn't aware it ever left his house!! Good that people like it though. All done by Chris who is a talented man

3:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i don't can say that this one really moves me as much as uw+p. reminds me a bit about early monochrome set, at least the quirkyness and positive feeling.

lucky

9:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anon,
this album was available from recommended for a brief period at the time. if you have some personal insights into the story around this record as your comment suggests, please do share them with us!
lucky,
i know exactly what you mean. perhaps you should give this one a few more listens, it's not so far from u,w&p as it seems at first...
greets
z

1:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Mended, where are you? I was organizing my day around your blog just a few weeks back!

6:14 AM  
Blogger rz said...

sorry, bad health... be back very soon (hopefuly)!
z

3:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this awesome music. Rz I venerate you like a GOD...

8:58 PM  
Blogger rz said...

anon,
ok, thanks... (and let me state here at my own defence that i was seriously contemplating to delete this last comment. but, then again, it's not offending... only over the top, to say the least!)

12:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey...any chance to get Schismatics - Vazen, posted some time ago? Great blog btw, keep up the good work.

3:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RZ - I don't 'venerate' you like a god, but I'm sure willing to tell the world, that you posted quite otherworldly stuff on your site.

nice to see some sign of life from you, even when it's just a added cover. ;)

ps - i know you linked to tone dog's debut album many months ago. i finally ripped my vinyl and will post the thing in a minute @ border music.

'hold your head up high', dear rz!

cheers, lucky

4:08 PM  
Blogger happyonce said...

Unrest Work and Play were an excellent band saw them play live on more than one occasion. Ex husband was designer of their EP cover

2:43 AM  
Blogger rz said...

happyonce,
great band indeed! one from my all-time top 10 list. interestingly it never occured to me that they might have played any gigs ever... any closer details you could share with us on this subject?
thanks!
best
z

3:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting reading- I was married to Chris Fraser for 20 years and am intrigued to know who 'happyonce' is?? My memory is that Chris did most of the covers except 1 who was done by someone called Mike. Anyway, UWP played LOADS of gigs including a European tour and many times around Bournemouth where they started from. Chris lost interest in his album 'Archaeology' resulting in him not even promoting the album. In fact, his new wife threw a lot of the albums straight in the bin!! I still have copies in my house, maybe I should sell them??
JF

3:55 AM  
Blogger rz said...

hi julie,
thanks for your most interesting comments! always nice to hear some first-hand infos, especially in cases like this, when there are virtually none at all. if you have some more recollections you wish to share or some band/gig photos, etc... please contact me at mendedblog@yahoo.com
i may have some ideas concerning those leftover-albums as well.
also, anyone who reads this and wants a copy can leave a message for julie here (preferably with a contact) - otherwise you can try e-bay or get in touch with some smaller independent distributor or chris at rermega.com, who originally distributed the album and may be interested...
in any case, please try to avoid that trash-can solution by any means :)
thanks again for your words
greets
z

2:02 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Julie

Happyonce is ex wife of Mike who designed cover in my front room remember those days Julie

9:13 AM  
Blogger Cleo said...

Hello Mended,

I would love to get a copy of this album and I read Julie's comment that she has some. Any idea how I can get in touch with her?

Thanks!
Best,
Claire

11:18 PM  
Blogger rz said...

cleo,
mail me at
mendedblog@yahoo.com
and we'll work something out.
z

3:11 AM  

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