Album Review: Long As In Short Walk As In Run by Lewandowski & Frith
Alright, let’s talk about Long As In Short Walk As In Run, the 2011 gem from Annie Lewandowski and Fred Frith. If you’re into jazz with a rock edge, free improvisation, or just something that feels like your brain’s doing cartwheels while listening—this one’s for you. Released under Ninth World Music in Denmark, it’s got all the hallmarks of avant-garde weirdness but wrapped up in a way that feels oddly approachable.
First off, props to the design crew (Heike Liss) and photography (Seán Kelly). The cover art sets the tone perfectly—kinda dreamy, kinda chaotic, like peeking into someone’s abstract sketchbook. And yeah, Annie and Fred are clearly vibing hard here; they play off each other like old friends who don’t need words to finish each other's sentences.
Now, onto the tracks. There are eight total, and honestly? Every single one has its own personality. But two stood out to me so much I had to rewind them twice.
The first is “My Winter Condition.” It starts slow, almost hesitant, like winter mornings when you’re not sure if you should get out of bed yet. Annie’s piano work here is hauntingly beautiful—it feels fragile but also kind of stubborn, like it refuses to be ignored. Then Fred jumps in with his electric guitar, adding these jagged little riffs that feel like frost cracking on a windowpane. Together, it’s both eerie and comforting, which sounds weird, but trust me, it works.
Then there’s “Stared At The Bird Statue And Tried To Think.” What even IS that title?! It’s as quirky as the music itself. This track feels like wandering through an art gallery where every piece is slightly off-kilter. You’ve got moments of calm followed by bursts of energy that catch you off guard. Fred’s guitar goes full-on experimental here, squealing and squawking in ways that shouldn’t make sense—but somehow do. It’s playful, unpredictable, and leaves you smiling even though you can’t quite explain why.
What makes this album special isn’t just the technical skill (though Myles Boisen deserves a shoutout for engineering magic), but how raw and human it feels. Like, you can tell these folks weren’t trying to impress anyone—they were just making music because they couldn’t help themselves. That authenticity shines through loud and clear.
So yeah, Long As In Short Walk As In Run might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you dig stuff that challenges your ears and keeps you guessing, give it a spin. Oh, and fun fact—I listened to this whole thing while folding laundry, and suddenly my boring chore turned into some kinda artsy performance piece. True story.
