Strange Free World is the second album by British alternative rock band Kitchens of Distinction, released on 19 February 1991 in the US by A&M Records and on 18 March 1991 in the UK by One Little Indian Records. It is the follow-up to their 1989 debut Love Is Hell. Noted producer Hugh Jones, who worked with Echo & the Bunnymen (on their 1981 album Heaven Up Here), among many others, helped KOD to sound more at ease in the studio.

Strange Free World
Studio album by
Released18 March 1991
Recorded1990
StudioChipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire
GenreShoegaze, dream pop
Length43:28
LabelOne Little Indian
ProducerHugh Jones
Kitchens of Distinction chronology
Love Is Hell
(1989)
Strange Free World
(1991)
The Death of Cool
(1992)
Singles from Strange Free World
  1. "Quick as Rainbows"
    Released: March 1990
  2. "Drive That Fast"
    Released: January 1991
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
NME9/10[3]
Record Mirror8/10[4]
Select4/5[5]

Reviewer Ned Raggett of AllMusic notes that "Musically, the tunes sound quite ambitious in many ways, often steering away from conventional verse-chorus-verse formulas," and calling the album an overall excellent effort.[1] It is often considered one of the group's best works, as well as possibly its most popular and commercially successful, peaking at number 45 on the UK Albums Chart.[6] The album also includes their first UK charting single "Drive That Fast," which peaked at number 93 on the UK Singles Chart.[6]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Kitchens of Distinction

No.TitleLength
1."Railwayed"4:57
2."Quick as Rainbows"3:48
3."Hypnogogic"4:01
4."He Holds Her, He Needs Her"3:48
5."Polaroids"4:51
6."Gorgeous Love"4:21
7."Aspray"3:37
8."Drive That Fast"5:36
9."Within the Daze of Passion"3:57
10."Under the Sky, Inside the Sea"4:32

Singles

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  • "Quick as Rainbows" (March 1990)
    • UK single:
    1. "Quick as Rainbows"
    2. "Mainly Mornings" (Live)
    3. "In a Cave" (Live)
    4. "Shiver" (Live)
    • US promo 12" single:
    1. "Quick as Rainbows"
    2. "These Drinkers"
    3. "Elephantiny" [acoustic version of "Elephantine"]
    4. "Three to Beam Up"
  • "Drive That Fast" (January 1991)
    • UK single:
    1. "Drive That Fast" (7" Edit)
    2. "These Drinkers"
    3. "Elephantiny"
    4. "Three to Beam Up"
    • US promo 12" single:
    1. "Drive That Fast"
    2. "Railwayed"

Personnel

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Kitchens of Distinction
  • Patrick Fitzgerald – vocals, bass
  • Julian Swales – guitar
  • Dan Goodwin – drums

with:

Technical
  • Hugh Jones – producer, engineer
  • Michael Ade – assistant engineer
  • Helen Woodward – mixing engineer
  • Richard Norris – assistant mixing engineer
  • Ken Perry – mastering
  • Colin Bell – photography
  • Art direction and design by Two Guys and Kitchens of Distinction
  • Mixed at Master Rock
  • Mastered at A&M Mastering

References

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  1. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Strange Free World – Kitchens of Distinction". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  2. ^ Arnold, Gina (22 March 1991). "Strange Free World". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 April 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Kitchens of Distinction: Strange Free World". NME: 32. 16 March 1991.
  4. ^ Crook, Darren (6 April 1991). "Kitchens of Distinction: Strange Free World". Record Mirror. p. 17.
  5. ^ Linehan, Graham (March 1991). "The Comfort of Strangers". Select (9): 75.
  6. ^ a b "Kitchens of Distinction". Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2019.