Credits:

Fridge

Description:

The 20th anniversary edition of a timeless classic from the early '00s, a time when post-rock and electronica were intermingling and folktronica was just beginning to emerge! Fridge released "Happiness" in 2001, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release, it has been remastered (meticulously restored, reconstructed and re-mastered by Kieran Hebden from the original master tapes) and reissued in a new package with bonus tracks. Anniversary Edition. Fridge, formed in 1996 by schoolmates Kieran Hebden, Adem Ilhan, and Sam Jeffers, was surprisingly prolific in its early years, recording 10 singles and 4 albums in its first 4 years, and then releasing a second album, "Long Singing," which was released in 1996, In its first four years, the group released 10 singles and four albums.After a brief stint on a major label, the trio released their most focused album to date (Eph, 1999), followed by their fourth, Happiness. Originally released in 2001, Happiness is a sprawling, rural masterpiece, an innovative mix of acoustic clatter, electronic exploration, hip-hop production techniques, and experimental rock arrangements. Together with Four Tet, Kieran's current solo project, Happiness draws on the most compelling elements of the raw electronic, indie-avant-rock archetypes of the 1990s and combines them with eclectic folk and spiritual jazz for something for the new millennium. The result is a new century of music. Even more surprisingly, they did so without any fuss, and with a level of perfection that set them apart from all other albums of the time.It is a highly accomplished work that blends the post-rock and electronica movements of the time, but the highlight is the nine-minute-long "Long Singing," the last song on the album. Electronic sounds and acoustic tones overlap with a minimalistic yet emotional melody, reaching a peak before gradually fading away. This is a gem of a song that shines in the history of post-rock to electronica, which can be heard for its construction beauty. It is also said to be one of the origins of folktronica, which has not faded after 20 years. Happiness - Anniversary Edition" is a 20th anniversary reissue of this masterpiece that defined Fridge's career. Meticulously restored, reconstructed, and remastered by Kieran Hebden from the original master tapes, the sound quality of the album respects the original recording like never before.The record was cut by award-winning mastering engineer Kevin Gray and pressed on high sound quality 150 gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings. The cover is a heavyweight old-style chip-on gatefold, hand printed and assembled at Stoughton Printing Company, completing this fine reissue of this memorable album.