One of the most cited electronic acts of our generation, Fred again.. is a name that needs little introduction. Having developed his own unique, vocal-infused production style over the last four years, Fred has performed at the biggest venues globally, including a sold-out five-night residency at Alexandra Palace last year, Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum and Madison Square Gardens. His ascension to the upper echelons of electronic music has been well documented, transitioning from a producer-for-hire to a global name in his own right. Fred’s latest instalment, the insular ‘ten days‘, further solidifies his presence as a the primary interlocutor between dance and artists from other genres.
‘ten days’ is an emotionally-charged album reflecting ten specific days of importance in the producer’s wayfaring life over the past year. Encapsulating the ephemeral nature of contemporary life, the album deftly balances stripped-back tracks with charged-up, rave-ready ones. ‘ten days’ greatly benefits from the guests roped into to add colour and character to the tapestry: Sampha, Anderson .Paak, Four Tet, Skrillex, Emmylou Harris, Duskus, Joy Anonymous and more, offload a series of life-affirming declarations across the emotional spectrum, like joy, regret, love and hurt. Each of the ten days receives an interlude to hybridise each track with the next. At first glance, it all seems too protracted but as an experience, the 47 minute runtime breezes by.
One of the standout tracks – one that may swing under the radar among the high-profile collaborations – is ‘i saw you’, a delicate number that twinges on the heartstrings; relatable and moving, every note and lyric seems to resonate with feelings that are universally felt. ‘i saw you‘ recalls the atmospheric introspection of his earlier work: those who’ve followed Fred since his first two ‘Actual Life’ albums will know there was a sensory touch and vulnerability at play, with the subsequent third instalment veering into a more high-octane dance sound.
Teased around the world at various popups and throughout his headlining set at Reading Festival this year, ‘peace u need’ with Joy Anonymous is set up perfectly to become the biggest ‘fresh’ song of this album. Sampling Lady Wray’s ‘Piece Of Me’, the mixture of pensive lyrics weaved in with ecstatic piano melodies rings out a collective anthem in harmony at his shows – experiencing it in the flesh at his Alexandra Palace terrace launch party all but confirmed that.
‘ten days’ is deceptive in the spectrum of dance it covers. Fred again.. wants you to feel in perpetual motion. The songs are personalised, and the innovative synths and crisp percs move the body whilst scratching that part of your brain you can’t get easily get to. Tracks such as ‘fear less’ take a more uplifting, empowering stance, whereas ‘where will I be’ and ‘just stand there’ are born from emotional shards and fragments.
Taking the album at face value, masking my knowledge of his earlier career, I ask myself: does ‘ten days’ elevate the modern dance album? It unequivocally does. It’s built from connection and collaboration. It explores the contours of the dancefloor whilst never forgoing its gushy, human centre.
9/10
Words: Harvey Marwood
—
