Freakbeat
Encyclopedia
Freakbeat is the name used for rare, collectable, and obscure British Invasion records, particularly from 1966 and 1967. Elements of the freakbeat sound include strong direct drum beats, loud and frenzied guitar riffs, and extreme effects such as: fuzztone, flanging
, distortion
and compression or phasing on the vocal or drum tracks. Often used to describe the European counterpart to the psychedelic garage rock of American groups like The Seeds
, The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, and The Standells
, freakbeat is most often applied to music originating in the UK, although many artists on the European continent also contributed to the freakbeat style. Some of the best-known examples of the freakbeat genre include the British hits "Take a Heart" by The Sorrows
, "Making Time" by The Creation
, "Atmospheres" by Wimple Winch, and "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" by The Move
. Much of the material collected on Rhino Records's 2001 box-set compilation Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
can be classified as freakbeat.
The term "freakbeat" was invented (after the fact) in the 1980s by the music journalist Phil Smee
, to retroactively describe a music style that has been described as a missing link between the early to mid-1960s mod R&B
scene and the psychedelic rock
and progressive rock
genres that emerged in the late-1960s with bands such as Pink Floyd
. Freakbeat music was typically created by four-piece bands experimenting with studio production techniques.
Flanging
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum,...
, distortion
Distortion (guitar)
Distortion effects create "warm", "dirty" and "fuzzy" sounds by compressing the peaks of a musical instrument's sound wave and adding overtones. The three principal types of distortion effects are overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Distortion effects are sometimes called “gain” effects, as distorted...
and compression or phasing on the vocal or drum tracks. Often used to describe the European counterpart to the psychedelic garage rock of American groups like The Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
, The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, and The Standells
The Standells
The Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
, freakbeat is most often applied to music originating in the UK, although many artists on the European continent also contributed to the freakbeat style. Some of the best-known examples of the freakbeat genre include the British hits "Take a Heart" by The Sorrows
The Sorrows
The Sorrows are considered perhaps to be the archetypal freakbeat band. They were formed in 1963 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England by Pip Whitcher.-Career:...
, "Making Time" by The Creation
The Creation (band)
The Creation were an English rock band, formed in 1966. The most popular Creation song was "Painter Man", which made the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1966, and reached #8 in the German chart in April 1967. It was later covered by Boney M in 1979, and reached the #10 position in the UK...
, "Atmospheres" by Wimple Winch, and "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" by The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
. Much of the material collected on Rhino Records's 2001 box-set compilation Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 is a 2001 four-disc box set from Rhino Records.While the original Nuggets compilation concentrated on the American pop and rock scene, the second Nuggets shifted its focus to the rest of the world, collecting cuts from the...
can be classified as freakbeat.
The term "freakbeat" was invented (after the fact) in the 1980s by the music journalist Phil Smee
Phil Smee
Phil Smee is an English music journalist, designer and record collector, most widely known for designing music album covers and his Bam-Caruso music label, best known for the Rubble series of albums. One of his more notable designs is the lettering of the Motörhead logo .-External links:...
, to retroactively describe a music style that has been described as a missing link between the early to mid-1960s mod R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
scene and the psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
genres that emerged in the late-1960s with bands such as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. Freakbeat music was typically created by four-piece bands experimenting with studio production techniques.