Absolutely Free (band) explained

Absolutely Free
Origin:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Years Active:2011–present
Current Members:Mike Claxton
Matt King
Moshe Rozenberg
Past Members:Jordan Holmes
Spinoff Of:DD/MM/YYYY

Absolutely Free is a Canadian indie rock band formed by bassist Mike Claxton, guitarist Jordan Holmes, singer/multi-instrumentalist Matt King and drummer Moshe Rozenberg after the breakup of their prior band, DD/MM/YYYY.

History

Claxton, Holmes, King and Rozenberg formed Absolutely Free in 2011 after the breakup of their prior band DD/MM/YYYY.[1] [2] The band released their debut EP UFO/Glass Tassel in 2012,[3] followed by On The Beach/Clothed Woman, Sitting EP the next year,[4] as limited-run 12" records.[5]

By 2014, Holmes had left the band; Absolutely Free released their debut full-length album Absolutely Free. with Arts & Crafts in Canada,[6] [7] and Lefse Records in all other territories.The band performed throughout North America opening for Canadian band, Alvvays,[8] and Europe with Preoccupations.[9] The album was a long-listed nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.[10] The band's song My Dim Age has been used as the theme music for the CBC Radio Show, Out In The Open since 2016.

In 2019, the song, Currency, was used in episode 2 of The CW television series, Batwoman.

Media Projects

Absolutely Free is known to work on projects outside traditional music performance and has collaborated with a diverse range of artists and musicians for their live and media-based projects.

In 2013, they developed a site-specific sound installation, On The Beach, on Toronto Island as part of the Camp Wavelength festival. That same year, they created a theatre performance for Summerworks Festival, where they performed a series of one minute songs to a single person at a time for the duration of the event.[11]

In 2014, the band debuted their self-titled album as part of a live event at Bloor Cinema in Toronto by projecting holograms of themselves performing the songs live at a concert they were playing in Hamilton, Ontario at the same time.[12]

In 2015, the band was commissioned to re-score a number of Norman McLaren NFB short films that were subsequently performed live as part of TIFF.[13]

In 2016, Absolutely Free scored the music for a feature Independent film, Two Cares, Due None and the short film, Ape Sodom.

The band has also collaborated with a number of artists to create videos for their music.

Discography

!Year!Details!Format!Record Label
2012UFO/Glass Tassel12" EPOne Big Silence
2013On The Beach/Clothed Woman, Sitting12" EPOne Big SilenceLefse Records
2014Absolutely Free.CD, 12" LPArts & CraftsLefse Records
2017The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)FlexidiscBoiled Records
2019Geneva Freeport12" EPIdee Fixe Records
2020Two Cares Due None (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Digital LPBoiled Records
2021AftertouchLPBoiled Records
Singles

Compilations

Notes and References

  1. http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/dd_mm_yyyy_break_up_form_absolutely_free "DD/MM/YYYY Break Up, Form Absolutely Free"
  2. https://nowtoronto.com/music/dd-mm-yyyy-call-it-a-d/ "DD/MM/YYYY call it a D"
  3. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/absolutely_free-ufo_glass_tassle_ep_stream/ "UFO / Glass Tassle (EP stream)"
  4. http://www.stereogum.com/1490381/absolutely-free-on-the-beach/mp3s/ "Absolutely Free – “On The Beach” & “Clothed Woman, Sitting”"
  5. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19770-absolutely-free-absolutely-free/ "Absolutely Free, Absolutely Free"
  6. http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/absolutely_free-absolutely_free Absolutely Free: "Absolutely Free"
  7. https://www.allmusic.com/album/absolutely-free-mw0002714114 "Absolutely Free Absolutely Free"
  8. https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/11/live-review-alvvays-at-acerogami-in-pomona-1126/ "Live Review: Alvvays at Acerogami in Pomona (11/26)"
  9. Web site: Absolutely Free announce UK/EU dates opening for Viet Cong. 2020-06-01. The Line of Best Fit. en.
  10. http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/polaris_music_prize_announces_2015_long_list "Polaris Music Prize Announces 2015 Long List"
  11. Web site: Absolutely Free Space Odyssey. 2020-06-02. exclaim.ca. en-ca.
  12. http://www.vueweekly.com/absolutely-free-love-holograms/ "Absolutely Free love holograms"
  13. Web site: 2014-09-03. TIFF '14: free outdoor screenings of Norman McLaren classics with live music. 2020-06-01. NFB Blog. en-CA.
  14. Web site: Abarbanel. Aliza. 2014-08-15. Absolutely Free's Video for "Beneath the Air" Is Absolutely Animated and Absolutely Sweet. 2020-06-02. Vice. en.
  15. Web site: 2018-11-14. Absolutely Free - "Still Life" Video. 2020-06-02. Stereogum.
  16. Web site: Timber Timbre "Hot Dreams" (Absolutely Free remix) / "Curtains?!" (Doomsquad remix). 2020-06-02. exclaim.ca. en-ca.
  17. Web site: Absolutely Free Return with "Still Life". 2020-06-01. exclaim.ca. en-ca.