Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing, but ultimately unrewarding., May 17, 2005
In 1996, Robert Fripp was invited to perform his solo soundscapes at Green Park Station, evidentally a decomissioned railroad station now fronting a supermarket and a series of shops. The performances were long and over several days, and this CD was culled from those shows. While the music on here is not my favorite of his soundscape works, it is amazing to see the growth that occured in his music since the live performances of the previous year.
For those unfamiliar, soundscapes are the digital version of Frippertronics (Frippertronics being a series of tape loops through which Fripp could loop and play over his own playing). The guitarist, in these cases unaccompanied, would then set forth on a series of improvisation, often centered on a mood, an idea, a thought, or some other stimulation. Whereas the performances on 1994's "1999" and the 1995 soundscapes series relied largely on an abstract, synthy, orchestral sound that was readily identifiable with Fripp, these performances utilize a great variety of sounds, from synthesized voices, pads, pianos, and percussion to horn sounds and even something that sounds occasionally like a guitar.
And yet remarkably, this variety of sound somehow seems to cause a lack of expressiveness in the playing-- it could be that he was largely not reflecting on a given moment, and thus his playing was unfocused, or it could be that utilizing a greater variety of sounds caused the music to lose some of its element. Either way, I find this set far less engaging than much of the earlier soundscapes work.
Still, it shows quite a bit of bravery and growth as Fripp begins to assume new techniques and styles into his soundscaping. Worth a listen, but not the classic that "A Blessing of Tears" is.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Let the Power be Explored......Fully, June 19, 2008
When restarting his solo career in earnest in 1994, Robert Fripp updated his Frippertronics technique with digital technology - instead of tapes - to create loops of sounds.
The Soundscapes projects included six CD releases of new material and a "single" collection of two releases.
The cutting-edge textures are oftentimes quite metallic and non-melodic, but Fripp is attempting to expand the potential of the electric guitar. But with the laboratory being the stage, sometimes the interpretation is not as strong when a complete performance is not heard.
It would be fantastic that - at some point - the sets which comprised the recording would be released in its entirety.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remastering of November Suite, January 30, 2004
By A Customer
I recently contacted Discipline Gm UK, the record label, they stated that "this album will be remastered sometime this year." That is all they said, so keep checkin back.
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