The tinfoil hats you can trust.
Frak is the lifelong alliance of three analogue-obsessed Swedes who’ve amassed a vast back catalogue of degenerate techno and searing acid rave since their debut gig in 1988, when the barely-teenage renegades first adopted the masks that have become their trademark.
Initially more influenced by the industrial synth-and-drum ventures of the likes of Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire than the era’s burgeoning rave movement, Björn Isgren, Jan Svensson and Johan Sturesson set up their label Börft in 1987 to release their early experiments. They put out dozens of analogue-driven cassettes and 12″s throughout the ‘90s, including 1993’s barmy 160bpm rave artefact Alice in Acidland (reissued a few years back by Joachim Nordwall’s iDEAL label).
The world has finally been catching up to the cult of Frak since they emerged from hibernation in the late ‘00s, releasing a flurry of 12″s on labels like Sex Tags Mania, Kontra-Musik and Rubadub, and gaining new converts through their searing live shows, which they still perform from behind their tinfoil masks. Most recently they teamed up with San Francisco label Dark Entries for the rugged Sudden Haircut EP (great sleeve, too).
The trio have cracked open the vaults to bring us a special all-Frak FACT mix, spanning material from 1987 to the present day. Expect slapping electro, blasted piano rave, thudding drum workouts and, of course, plenty of acieeeeeed, with an incredible closing section drawn from their earliest cassette releases. Have it!
(And an explanatory word from our reliably brilliant illustrator, Alex Solman: “Frak is Swedish for suit, and penguins are simply the best dressed animals.” Obvious, really.)
Tracklist:
01. ‘Judge Birre Sound 5’ (just unreleased sounds)
02. ‘Juno’ (unreleased track – recorded Chambery, France 2002)
03. ‘To Find A Way Home’ (alternative version – original released by Kontra-Musik, 2014)
04. ‘Sailor’ (alternative version – original released by Rubadub, 2013)
05. ‘Fragmentus’ (alternative version – original released by Kontra-Musik, 2013)
06. ‘Acid Color’ (alternative version – original released by Kontra-musik, 2013)
07. ‘Splended Mutant’ (released on the compilation tape Svenska happa by Maneki Neko, 2012)
08. ‘Harmonia’ (released on the compilation tape Fake Sound Routine Vol 2 by I just live here, 201?)
09. ‘Diffusus’ (released on the Studio Jams cassette by Beniffer Editions, 2011)
10. ‘Power Express’ (released on the compilation tape Svenska happa by Maneki Neko, 2012)
11. ‘City Synth’ (released on the Dry Vanadis/Tournament City cassette by Draft, 2010)
12. ‘Digitry’ (released on the Dry Vanadis/Tournament City cassette by Draft, 2010)
13. ‘Thick’ (released on the Ljudförsök cassette by Börft, 1988)
14. ‘Bowed Synth’ (released on the Ljudförsök cassette by Börft, 1988)
15. ‘Skedo’ (released on the Dry Vanadis/Tournament City cassette by Draft, 2010)
16. ‘Hello Nova’ (released on the Hello Nova cassette by Ormolycka, 2011)
17. ‘Farbstoffe’ (released on the Ljudförsök cassette by Börft, 1988)
18. ‘Ekin’ (released on the Raggarslakt cassette by Börft, 1987)
19. ‘Dött Hus’ (released on the Raggarslakt cassette by Börft, 1987)
20. ‘Performance Intro’ (unreleased)
21. ‘Don’t Leave Me’ (released on the Raggarslakt cassette by Börft, 1987)
