Voice of America (Frith, Ostertag and Minton album)

Voice of America is a 1982 studio album by Fred Frith (guitar), Bob Ostertag (synthesizer, sampler), and Phil Minton (voice). It is a primarily improvised experimental music work that blends elements of noise music, free improvisation, and avant-garde jazz.

The album features extended instrumental passages characterized by Frith's unconventional guitar techniques, Ostertag's electronic manipulations and sampling, and Minton's wide-ranging vocalizations, which include screaming, whispering, and abstract phonetic sounds. The compositions are largely unstructured, allowing for spontaneous interactions and unpredictable sonic landscapes.

Voice of America was released on Rift Records and is considered a significant work in the development of experimental improvisation. Its abrasive and challenging nature has cemented its status as a cult classic amongst fans of avant-garde music. The album's title is likely a provocative reference to the U.S. government-funded international radio broadcaster, possibly commenting on the perceived dissonance between idealized American values and the reality of its foreign policy during the Cold War era.