Next Wave #619: Absolutely Free

Enchanting, experimental sounds from Toronto…

For most bands, hosting an event to launch their new single consists of nothing more exotic than a gig at The Lexington. Not so for experimental Toronto three-piece Absolutely Free, who have previously heralded the arrival of new material by, amongst other things, leading an audience on a tour of venues in their hometown, hosting a 1990s-themed party, and playing at their local indoor swimming pool.

“We try to put as much craft and personality into our performance setting as we do the songwriting,” proclaims the band, over email. “The intention is to string together an experience that binds both audience and performer.”

And Absolutely Free certainly put a great deal of thought into their music. Formed from the ashes of the celebrated cult crew DD/MM/YYYY at the back end of 2011, Absolutely Free specialise in the kind of intelligent, thought-provoking post-rock that gives instant gratification as well as rewarding careful repeated listening.

It’s no surprise to hear that the writing process sounds laborious: “We approach with patience. We record rehearsals, listen back and pick things apart.” This approach goes against the play first, think later ethos of DD/MM/YYYY and, in the band’s own words, “helps us write with our ears rather than our adrenaline”.

The band’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut LP, released in late 2014 through Lefse, is a thrilling collection of tracks by a band that isn’t afraid to think big. For further evidence, since Absolutely Free’s formation, they’ve “released a couple of 12” singles, contributed original work for three compilations and composed scores for one feature film, one short film and seven experimental animations”.

But perhaps that’s the sort of prodigious work rate you’d expect from a group whose mission statement is to integrate “analogue electronics, African polyrhythms, psychedelia, Bollywood and Krautrock”. While it’s tempting to think of Absolutely Free as attempting to have their multi-genre cake and eat it, their undoubted musical acumen and strong writing ability means their album is a triumph.

Absolutely Free are taking their heady mix of guitars and electronics (“How do we play all these elements on the road? Short answer: Midi foot controllers!”) on the road in February, travelling Europe from Oslo to Brussels with Viet Cong, the group containing Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace, formerly of Women.

“DD/MM/YYYY and Women were sisters, and that relationship’s been renewed,” explain the group. “Audiences can anticipate some real chemistry between the two bands and every night should be an overwhelming spectacle.”

In an age where it feels like too many bands spend more time cultivating the right image than they do making music, it’s refreshing to find a group so clearly in love with the act of creating art. Absolutely Free aren’t resting on their laurels; they’ve already finished another cinematic score (“for a feature film called Two Cares Due None”) and once that’s done, they’ll be “working on a backlog of remixes, releasing a few music videos, collaborating with visual artists, and getting started on a couple of smaller recording projects and an EP”. It’s an exhausting itinerary just to read about, let alone contemplate executing.

“Our songwriting process varies quite a bit; we have no formula and we function with sheer collaboration. We have it in us to exercise restraint and communicate with more vulnerability, but the songs on our album demanded intricacy and texture.”

With an approach to writing that values experimentation and boundary-pushing ideas, do Absolutely Free struggle to know when a song needs nothing added to it? “When it comes to a finished work, well, how do you know when you’re finished making love?”

Perhaps it’s better not to consider the implications of that last one.

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WHERE: Toronto

WHAT: Psychedelic peers of Tame Impala and Animal Collective, albeit with a flowerier disposition

GET 3 SONGS: ‘Beneath The Air’ (video above), ‘Vision’s’, ‘On The Beach’

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Words: Joe Rivers
Photo: Colin Medley

Absolutely Free online. See them in the UK with Viet Cong as follows:

February
4th Oslo, London
5th Deaf Institute, Manchester
6th Broadcast, Glasgow
7th Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
8th Green Door Store, Brighton

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