Freur - Alabaster White Thing

[Liam]

I remember hearing an amazing ambient track by Freur once called 'Alabaster White Thing.' I don't know of any release of it, but I know that there are a few MP3s floating around (some on a dodgy Russian MP3 site). Does anybody know anything about it / where I can find it?

[dubman]

if no one else comes thru with it, check yr pm box in a few hours.

i'm at work right now but i should get home in that time. ;)

basically alabaster white thing was kind of a bridge btween MK1 underworld and freur, even though it stands apart from both of them and sounds more like a bridge between lemon interupt and Mk1.

[aaron5000]

I'd like to hear that

[BufoBufo]

Sounds quality. Any chance of a share? Please, Sir? :D

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Whoa, as the world's #1 Freur fan I have got to hear it!!!

[Ufotofu]

Sounds intriguing. Anyone who could send it my way?

[aaron5000]

Dubman came through, and I passed along the wealth.

[undarrenworld]

Oh yes, I love that piece, I remember having it on my drive, but that file dissapear, I dont know where I have it now. I have recorded it to my old radio and I have the sound on my tape, its so lovely. I know that there exist mp3 of that. Anyone could PM me with info if the mp3 really still exist?

Thank you in advance:)

[crazysugarboy]

Can I have a listen pleeez:)??

[undarrenworld]

This is really amazing track, do we have some further info about it? It sounds so modern not like in the 80`, its timeless. I love this track so much, makes me happy.

Respect

[patrick]

someone put it up online!

we've never heard it

(Please please!)

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Hate to bump a super old thread, but I was wondering, disco-heads, does anyone know where this track came from and if it was actually by Freur? A google search shows that it may be from an EP released in 2000 from a group called "Fleur". I'm willing to accept that it's just some weird translation/typo thing for the Russian MP3 sites, but when was this track released? It sounds way ahead of its time, assuming it's from the mid-80's. I admit it sounds an awful lot like some of the first ambient tracks UW used to do. Any help?? Thanks

[bryantm3]

yeah, this sounds cool— if anyone has it, please post!

[ultradave]

I haven't played this in a while. Thanks for bringing it up, it has some nice electronics. Not sure this was ever an official release - it appears it may just have been released on a demo tape perhaps. Even according to BigScreenSatellites page - it shows it as "Unknown" as to it's origin. :confused:

http://www.bigscreensatellite.com/tracklistings.htm

[big screen satellite]

Yep i only listed it then as it was posted as 'existing' but i've never heard it or seen it either

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

What I'm saying is, do we have any evidence at all that Freur actually made that demo? There was that AViD ambient mix on these boards which I thought used the tune quite well, it fits with other UW stuff, but Freur as far as I know never really made anything as experimental and fully developed as that. Does it really date back to (say) 1985?

I'm reworking my Underworld/Freur review page and I want to know this because I pretty much say that this is the track that really shows the type of group they'd become, and would look pretty stupid if it turns out they didn't even do it...

[crank]

Wait, So does this exist or not?

[testudo]

The change in Eight Ball (breakdown) at its earliest stage made 15 years before Eight ball:

Unknown - track 06

[joethelion]

Wait, So does this exist or not?

yes - it exists...

Lemme break out my external hd ... it SHOULD be on there. I haven't listened to it in a while.
It uses a recording from that number you used to able to dial to get the correct time (like in the Scott Walker song "Time Operator")

I got it from an FTP back .... wow - like probably 10 years ago with some other old Freur tracks like "Uncle Geof" and UW mk1 demos

(edit)

yea - I know this is totally breaking the rules.... BUUUUTTTTT
you can't buy it anywhere, and it had been shared at one point in time...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/w0hocw

(and I also included Uncle Jeof in the file)

[Dunwho]

yes - it exists...

Lemme break out my external hd ... it SHOULD be on there. I haven't listened to it in a while.
It uses a recording from that number you used to able to dial to get the correct time (like in the Scott Walker song "Time Operator")

I got it from an FTP back .... wow - like probably 10 years ago with some other old Freur tracks like "Uncle Geof" and UW mk1 demos

(edit)

yea - I know this is totally breaking the rules.... BUUUUTTTTT
you can't buy it anywhere, and it had been shared at one point in time...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/w0hocw

(and I also included Uncle Jeof in the file)
Wow this is amazing thanks so much!

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

The change in Eight Ball (breakdown) at its earliest stage made 15 years before Eight ball:

Unknown - track 06

Eh? Where is that one from?

As long as we're talking about old mk1/Freur stuff; there used to be a bootleg that contained what I guess was an original version of "Mother Earth". It has some really cool vocal effects and a real fast beat. If it were cleaned up I'd like it more than the original. Does anyone remember where that came from??

[testudo]

Eh? Where is that one from?


its on the freur demo (?)

Yeah the 4min. mk1 Mother Earth demo rocks, such a different vibe.... also the live 1991 mk1 version in hamburg is great too!

[joethelion]

...wait - what "Freur demo"?

I only know of these two "Demo Things" (not including the Dubno pre-release Dat):

"1990 Demo"
"Demo Tape"

"1990 Demo" has: Change the Weather / Faded Love / Gypsy Hairdo / Promised Land (Full Lenght)*/
Promised Land (Full Length) / Sex Lies (Rock) / Sex Lies / Winter Moon / Yours Faithfully

"Demo Tape" : Faith Healer / Mother Earth / Spirit of the World / Sex Lies / Feel Me** / Isolation


*yes, spelled incorrectly, then again spelled the right way...
** it's a slightly different version than the one from the "Dubno Dat Tape Pre-Release Version"

[khouri]

8 Ball fifteen years before 8 Ball? Mother Earth demo? GIMME GIMME PLEASE PLEASE

[big screen satellite]

i've searched all my freur articles and notes (here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigscreensatellite/sets/72157618324933591/)) - there is no info...not even in freur news

its certainly not been played live (as far as records go)

i'll try and dig out any other infor i have, which i have yet to upload to flickr...

it does certainly sound too modern and ambient to be freur...

[crank]

so is that the final word? It's not real?

[joethelion]

it does certainly sound too modern and ambient to be freur...

really?

To me - it sounds like it totally have been completed in the 80's

Although, I'd believe it if it turned out to not 'technically' be by Freur, but a UW production

but I mean, it's just that basic keyboard loop, with the "time operator" recording
then some added synth at like 2 min

and it doesn't sound too far removed from "Kiss Me" (another Freur track)
like that same doo-doo daa-daa repetition; or even "This The Way I'd Like to Live My Life"

what would be interesting to know - is who was the guy who originally shared the file? I definitely got it from a now-defunct RTSR ftp from somewhere betwen 2001-2003. At least 2003 is the "date created" info on the file, and my earliest files within that folder are from 2001.

[big screen satellite]

so is that the final word? It's not real?

god no, i'm no expert - just seems too long and experimental to be a Freur track IMO

most Freur is generally throwaway pop / rock - remember Freur were at their peak 1983-1985 - does this really sound like a mid eighties track?

(i know Rick was ahead of his time, but unless he confirms when it was released - i reserve judgement)

eitherway its a great track....

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Thanks for looking it up BSS. I agree with you and am kind of torn on this. I have some obscure Freur demo recordings, there are some experimental things there, but nothing that would suggest that they'd ever do a 10 minute ambient track with no vocals, especially one that seems to be recorded this well. It's certainly believable as an early mk2 track. The bass part sounds a bit like the breakdown in TMO actually. That's what really makes this bizarre for me. It definitely sounds like something Rick would do, like on the BWS album that just came out.

This site credits it to "Fleur" and says it came out in 2000:
http://www.mp3sale.ru/track.php?ms_trackid=520278

I guess only the guy who uploaded it knows for sure...(among us at least)


By the way BSS...Freur is not throwaway music!! Those two albums are great and I listen to them more than a few of UW's albums.

[crank]

Yeah, i saw that Russian listing too. Then i promptly googled Fleur. NO hits. who knows. Though I agree- it sounds a bit Rickish.

[TheBang]

Posted by Yannick to rtsr-trade on Jan 21, 2003:

hey all.

i've sent a buch of old recording for all of you to checkout.
(uploaded to geoff ftp)


Freur Demo Tape - 1981? all kind of strange stuff
Freur Transmutation Soundtrack
Freur Unreleased Track
Underworld Mk1 Unreleased track + Demo
Mk1 Radio Session


so if you like to old stuff check it out.

Alabaster White Thing, and Freur demo tape is worth checking even if
you don't like the old stuff


happy good day

And on Jan. 24, 2003:

OK ... couple of different stories here

- Freur demo tape - believe it or not - turned up in a used record
store in the UK around 1989-90. Tape was in a box with a gold foil
hand written cover (and yes it is karls handwriting). A guy named
Trevor Andrews who was one of the guys on my Underworld mailing list
(pre-Internet) found it ... having recognised the name of some of
the tracks ... and paid about 3 quid for it if i remember correctly!

- All the other stuff came from Rick and/or Karl. They gave me a few
unreleased items on tape, probably to stop hearing me beg so much.
Apparantly Alabaster is just some experimental track they were
playing around with (!) and they supposedly recorded the phone bits
late at night / early morning where they phoned up one of their
management people and kept quiet ... just kept taping ... so if you
get a phone call in the middle of the night but its quiet on the
other end ... be polite!
* Transmutations stuff speaks for itself ... some songs from the
film soundtrack (called "Underworld" in the UK) that Freur composed
and recorded.
* Gypsy Hairdo was some track they did for a convention (something
to do with hair i think)
* Fever (dance mix) an unreleased mix for a song that never made it
to be released as a single from the CTW album
* Richard Skinner session the songs from the Radio One set
* Promised Land the unedited version of a song from the Wild Orchid
sountrack. Lyrics of this are on the CTW album inner sleeve.

[crank]

so THAT is the definitive word

[joethelion]

damn. I totally forgot about some of those other tracks...

[TheBang]

So, that second post came not from Yannick, but from some guy named Tony who went by the handle "freursoldhaircrimpers." I don't know who that is.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Okay, that basically confirms it for me..thanks for digging that up. I wonder if they ever did any other experimental stuff like that. I remember the track Gypsy Hairdo. I had just assumed that it was mislabelled since it doesn't sound anything at all like UW at any point. It's not even in the same genre. Very strange.


Yeah, i saw that Russian listing too. Then i promptly googled Fleur. NO hits. who knows. Though I agree- it sounds a bit Rickish.

Actually there is a group called that from somewhere in Europe. You can download their music on the Russian mp3 sites and I saw one that listed Alabaster White Thing under "more songs by this artist". I wonder how they got their hands on it.

[Mike]

So, that second post came not from Yannick, but from some guy named Tony who went by the handle "freursoldhaircrimpers." I don't know who that is.

Tony is an old time rtsr-er, and all round nice guy, who lives in Toronto (but im pretty sure he is from the UK) - he injected the group with tonnes of Freur and Mk1 stuff...

Another old time fan gave me a snippet of a telephone conversation between him and Karl back in 1989/1990 ish - i will have to dig that out at some point.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Ha, I just heard on the demo tape their old single "I Just Can't Stand Cars". It's such a stupid song and I'm really starting to love it.

[nelfun5]

Could someone please reupload the song somewhere (previous link is broken), I'm dying to hear it!

[dubman]

numberonesuperwhat

lol people doubting AWT, what next

[tonyb]

Tony is an old time rtsr-er, and all round nice guy, who lives in Toronto (but im pretty sure he is from the UK) - he injected the group with tonnes of Freur and Mk1 stuff...


That would be me :o) How are you all doing?

This thread SO caught my eye ...

Yes, much of the Freur and UW Mk1 stuff came from my collection. I was hunting high and low in the pre-Internet days for material. I ran wanted adds in Record Collector for months, and (briefly) had a small newsletter I put out for the band, based on info they would give me, including b+w photocopies of any printed material I was able to accumulate. Rick and Karl would pass my mailing address onto people who wanted to stay in touch. We are talking around 1989-1992 here. Along the way I made a few key contacts who were avid collectors and we'd trade cassette tapes ... think "stone age RTSR"! Sooo much easier in the digital age.I moved from the UK to Toronto in the early nineties - just after DubNo, and promptly lost touch with R+K before they went stratospheric (though I did catch up with them at a Torornto gig about 10 years later).

AWT was included on the same tape that included the Transmutations soundtrack stuff, which includes songs I had heard them play live as Freur (Theme From The Underworld for example, which is also a video clip sitting on VHS somewhere), so I am positive its them.

Regards to all
Tony

[lemonjelly]

unsure how to pop youtube links on here, but look what I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uouI2EJb9ao

[Yannick]

So, that second post came not from Yannick, but from some guy named Tony who went by the handle "freursoldhaircrimpers." I don't know who that is.

I know Tony ;)

[TheBang]

I know Tony ;)
Yes, that was a long time ago. I know who Tony is now too. :)

[stimpee]

And this has popped up on Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/12059270

Freur ‎– Lost Treasures
Label: Not On Label ‎– none
Format: CDr, Compilation, Unofficial Release

Tracklist
1 –Freur Pronunciation
2 –Freur Unkown
3 –Freur Unkown
4 –Freur Unkown
5 –Freur Unkown
6 –Freur Unkown
7 –Freur Unkown
8 –Freur Unkown
9 –Freur Unkown
10 –Freur Riders In The Night (Demo)
11 –Freur Endless Groove (Demo)
12 –Freur Shelter (Demo)
13 –Freur My Room (Demo)
14 –Freur The Gauge (Demo)
15 –Freur Unknown
16 –Freur Alabaster White Thing
17 –Freur Choir
18 –Freur Cocktails
19 –Freur Jazz Bain
20 –Freur Red Dog's Theme
21 –The Screen Gemz I Don't Like Carz
22 –The Screen Gemz Teenage Teenage
23 –Freur Audiography

[4thDrawerDown]

blasphemy perhaps, but i'm crying with laughter here

https://postpunkmonk.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/freur-stainlesssteeltears-revo036.jpg

[deepfriedbeans]

^ Lmao, that is GOLD

[khouri]

I don't understand those haircuts -- like in a laws-of-physics kind of way.