Intellectual giftedness is something that carries with it a funny little burden. Those possessing it in abundance often squander it. Stories of the absent-minded professor or the lonely genius or smarties cracking under pressure are common (and hilarious for us lesser-thans). Conversely, I started out with none and still have most of it and I managed to write this story y'all are reading right now all by myself! Yeah, I know, that's not really comforting, is it? Thankfully we don't have to rely on Tiny Mix Tapes writers for instruction, illumination, and inspiration; some eggheads to come through in the crunch with the goods that we have come to expect from them. For example, if it's well-adjusted musical brains you're looking for, you could no worse than checking out the three members of Fridge.
Adem Ilhan? A Mensa candidate if there ever was one. Kieren Hebden? His cleverness fully ferments meat without the need for oxygen. Sam Jeffers? Would it surprise you to learn that he has figured out the true origin of the universe and that it has nothing to do with random chance or intelligent design (here’s a hint: it involves a man, a can, and a plan!)? Who the hell do these smart-arses, these braincases (...these princes of Maine, these Kings of New England...) think they are? As if living with having an embarrassment of riches in the smarts and skills departments isn't enough, now comes word that the three will once again join together as Fridge, the band they played in prior to their respective individual success stories: Ilhan in Adem solo guise, Hebden as Four Tet, and Jeffers working in web design, playing politics, composing soundtracks, touring and session drumming, and presumably doing a few more things popular with polymaths.
Good things do indeed come to those who wait, but let us hope that the things that come are not just the things left over from before (although we would probably be okay with old Fridge toss-off tracks too, if that was the case). The Sun will be Fridge’'s fifth album -- their first in six years -- and will be released on Temporary Residence, Ltd. June 26 (on Hebden's Text Records in the UK, Domino in Europe). August promises a Four Tet/Sunburned Hand of the Man collaboration called Fire Escape, but if you want to prove to everyone that you know your ass from your elbow, look first toward The Sun in June.
1. The Sun
2. Clocks
3. Our Place in This
4. Drums of Life
5. Eyelids
6. Oram
7. Comets
8. Insects
9. Lost Time
10. Years and Years and Years
