Bent Knee - Frosting (2021)
Bent Knee - Frosting (2021)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 314 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 120 Mb | 00:52:03
Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Female Vocal | Label: Take This to Heart Records
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 314 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 120 Mb | 00:52:03
Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Female Vocal | Label: Take This to Heart Records
Bent Knee are not a band for convention. In fact, since forming in 2009, the Boston-based six-piece have been on a constant journey of musical exploration that thoroughly disregards it. The result is five records that completely defy categorization and transcend genre. In other words, the band don’t just break the rules, they make up their own. That’s ensured they exist exclusively on their own terms. Frosting, the band’s sixth full-length, pushes those boundaries even further. It’s the most Bent Knee-esque Bent Knee record to date, which means that, simultaneously, it’s also the album of theirs that sounds the least like Bent Knee.Tracklist:
That’s perhaps a journey the band – Courtney Swain (lead vocals/keyboards), Ben Levin (lead guitar/backing vocals), Jessica Kion (bass/backing vocals), Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth (drums), Chris Baum (violin/backing vocals) and Vince Welch (synthesizers/guitar) – would have taken anyway, but the extent to which it’s true was amplified by circumstance. While no-one needs reminding about the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic, it did mean that Bent Knee weren’t able to approach the making of this record in the same way as the previous five. In fact, this one was written entirely remotely.
“This was definitely very different,” admits Welch, who – like all previous Bent Knee albums – was also behind the sound design and production of this one. “Every other album had basically been the band in a room at at least some point in the process, but we finished this one still having never played these songs together. And then the technological limitation of having to send each other everything created this different dynamic that slowed everything down. You didn’t have to react to an idea in like half a second – you could take an afternoon to ponder it.”
“It was really interesting writing-wise,” adds Kion, “because it became a lot less about how quickly each person could get their idea out. And the ideas also didn’t have to be fully formed to exist. We each had these little seedling ideas that were all up for grabs – just writing these tiny little pieces and just sharing them and working with whatever felt good. And that made such a different album.”
That approach meant that, even after a decade writing songs together, the band were still learning new things about the way they worked together. Taking those seedlings – which, for example, might be just two bars – that were up for grabs, the six of them worked communally from afar to build these songs from the ground up. Whether it was by mashing two of those seedlings together or writing a verse over one of them, everybody in the band chipped in the ways they saw fit to get the most out of those initial ideas.
“One of my favorite things that happened,” says Kion, “was to hear Chris start writing the bridges, because they’re amazing. I’m actually kind of upset that it took so long to realize that – we’re a decade in and we only just now found out that Chris is the bridge guy!”
The process didn’t just open the band’s eyes to previously unknown strengths, however. It also – rather ironically – afforded them much more freedom to do whatever they wanted musically, to really push the boat out when it came to sounds and ideas. Being forced to work within a more limited capacity than they ever had before actually meant there were fewer limits. “With this record,” says Welch, “we were starting from a different kind of baseline. When you’re in a room, everyone’s kind of restricted to what’s in that room. But when everyone’s in their own place with their own stuff, there’s a much broader range of things they can do, such as recording at different speeds or using and splicing samples together.”
The result is a record that contains a wealth of disparate sounds and influences, one that continues the band’s innate refusal to be pigeonholed (“It drives me crazy when musicians limit themselves on account of genre,” says Welch). As such, Frosting is an album that veers wildly in atmosphere and texture, but which all comes together to form one beautifully cohesive whole. It starts with the energizing technicolor burst of “Invest In Breakfast”, a hyper-pop song that’s akin to the sugar rush of a bowl of Fruit Loops, but that’s then followed by the portentous, harrowing and almost apocalyptic avant-gardisms of “Baby In The Bush”, a somber, slow-motion storm of emotional damage. The contrast between the two is striking, but that’s the point.
This is an album that ebbs and flows between extremes, musically and lyrically, that captures the gamut of human emotion and experience. There’s the good-natured, uplifting electronic sunshine of “Casper” and the carefree, soulful musical breeze of “Fighting All My Life” – and then the twisted, tortured, Nine Inch Nails-referencing 21st century schizoid blast of “The Upward Spiral”. That, though, is followed by the calming, peaceful and heartbroken “Set It Off”, one of the most vulnerable and tender moments on this record. Elsewhere, “Have It All” – one of many songs that incorporates format shifted vocals into its folds – is a spirited neo-pop song that sets the tone for the highly-charged
“Queer Gods” that immediately follows it. “The Floor Is Lava” travels back in time to the innocence of childhood. “OMG” almost sounds like a collision of five different songs before it bleeds into the shapeshifting finale of “Not This Time”. A rousing album closer, it almost seems to reprise the entire the musical and emotional journey that preceded it before fading into a haunting, sad silence.
“The whole record is a mix of lighthearted and pretty songs, and then heavy, nasty songs,” says Welch. “I initially thought it was going to have to be multiple EPs, but we decided to lean into the differences between the songs and find an album order that switches as aggressively as possible.”
But Frosting is not just an exploration of creativity, nor does it simply continue the impressively innovative journey they’ve been on since the start. It’s also an important celebration of pure creativity, of the freedom to follow your muse, of making art for the love and joy of making art. Which, after all, is really the only reason it should ever be made. That’s something the band took to heart especially for this album.
“We’re an independent band again,” explains Kion. “So many things have added up to mean that we can make this what we actually need it to be for us – whereas for a very long time it was a lot about just growing and asking permission and not getting a response or not getting it. For a long time, it felt like we were grinding out gears to just exist, and I feel like we’re recently truly understanding what it’s like to be free again. We’ve been able to pick our own path and decide what we want to make and what we want to do."
1. Invest in Breakfast (03:24)
2. Baby in the Bush (04:11)
3. Casper (02:16)
4. Fighting All My Life (03:24)
5. The Upward Spiral (04:20)
6. Set It Off (04:56)
7. Pause (00:34)
8. Have It All (03:41)
9. Queer Gods (03:55)
10. Rib Woman (02:43)
11. Ermine (00:46)
12. The Floor is Lava (05:50)
13. Cake Party (03:18)
14. OMG (02:47)
15. Not This Time (05:33)
Exact Audio Copy V1.3 from 2. September 2016
EAC extraction logfile from 29. October 2021, 17:35
Bent Knee / Frosting
Used drive : hp CDDVDW SH-216AL Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -e -p -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 3:24.11 | 0 | 15310
2 | 3:24.11 | 4:11.63 | 15311 | 34198
3 | 7:35.74 | 2:16.52 | 34199 | 44450
4 | 9:52.51 | 3:24.54 | 44451 | 59804
5 | 13:17.30 | 4:20.50 | 59805 | 79354
6 | 17:38.05 | 4:56.65 | 79355 | 101619
7 | 22:34.70 | 0:34.37 | 101620 | 104206
8 | 23:09.32 | 3:41.62 | 104207 | 120843
9 | 26:51.19 | 4:12.52 | 120844 | 139795
10 | 31:03.71 | 2:43.45 | 139796 | 152065
11 | 33:47.41 | 0:45.74 | 152066 | 155514
12 | 34:33.40 | 5:50.54 | 155515 | 181818
13 | 40:24.19 | 3:18.40 | 181819 | 196708
14 | 43:42.59 | 2:47.61 | 196709 | 209294
15 | 46:30.45 | 5:33.01 | 209295 | 234270
Track 1
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\01 - Invest in Breakfast.wav
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Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 3.5 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 2
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\02 - Baby in the Bush.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 3
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\03 - Casper.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 4.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 4
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\04 - Fighting All My Life.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 5
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\05 - The Upward Spiral.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 6
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\06 - Set It Off.wav
Peak level 93.5 %
Extraction speed 6.5 X
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Track 7
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\07 - Pause.wav
Peak level 74.8 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 99.6 %
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Track 8
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\08 - Have It All.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 9
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\09 - Queer Gods.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 10
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\10 - Rib Woman.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 11
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\11 - Ermine.wav
Peak level 57.1 %
Extraction speed 4.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 12
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\12 - The Floor is Lava.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 13
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\13 - Cake Party.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.8 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 14
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\14 - OMG.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 15
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\15 - Not This Time.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.0 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: EIbhfNqYojfzxUZfQlC1D2k0au8-] disk not present in database
Submit result: EIbhfNqYojfzxUZfQlC1D2k0au8- has been uploaded
==== Log checksum E1460E64F8880BAE6121F54B4520A0C5CDC535793FC463D1CFF04DFA18AF4BE4 ====
EAC extraction logfile from 29. October 2021, 17:35
Bent Knee / Frosting
Used drive : hp CDDVDW SH-216AL Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -e -p -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 3:24.11 | 0 | 15310
2 | 3:24.11 | 4:11.63 | 15311 | 34198
3 | 7:35.74 | 2:16.52 | 34199 | 44450
4 | 9:52.51 | 3:24.54 | 44451 | 59804
5 | 13:17.30 | 4:20.50 | 59805 | 79354
6 | 17:38.05 | 4:56.65 | 79355 | 101619
7 | 22:34.70 | 0:34.37 | 101620 | 104206
8 | 23:09.32 | 3:41.62 | 104207 | 120843
9 | 26:51.19 | 4:12.52 | 120844 | 139795
10 | 31:03.71 | 2:43.45 | 139796 | 152065
11 | 33:47.41 | 0:45.74 | 152066 | 155514
12 | 34:33.40 | 5:50.54 | 155515 | 181818
13 | 40:24.19 | 3:18.40 | 181819 | 196708
14 | 43:42.59 | 2:47.61 | 196709 | 209294
15 | 46:30.45 | 5:33.01 | 209295 | 234270
Track 1
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\01 - Invest in Breakfast.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 3.5 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 72220835
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 2
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\02 - Baby in the Bush.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D863C514
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\03 - Casper.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 4.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 23886796
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\04 - Fighting All My Life.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 5
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\05 - The Upward Spiral.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 6
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\06 - Set It Off.wav
Peak level 93.5 %
Extraction speed 6.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 7
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\07 - Pause.wav
Peak level 74.8 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 99.6 %
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Track 8
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\08 - Have It All.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 9
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\09 - Queer Gods.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 10
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\10 - Rib Woman.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 6.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 11
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\11 - Ermine.wav
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Track 12
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\12 - The Floor is Lava.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 13
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\13 - Cake Party.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.8 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 14
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\14 - OMG.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 15
Filename C:\Rips v4\Bent Knee - Frosting {2021} [T3H2-096] (FLAC)\15 - Not This Time.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 7.0 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
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End of status report
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[CTDB TOCID: EIbhfNqYojfzxUZfQlC1D2k0au8-] disk not present in database
Submit result: EIbhfNqYojfzxUZfQlC1D2k0au8- has been uploaded
==== Log checksum E1460E64F8880BAE6121F54B4520A0C5CDC535793FC463D1CFF04DFA18AF4BE4 ====
Thanks to the Original ripper !