Customer Reviews

Temple in the Clouds

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After listening to this and then going back and listening to both the Fripp & Eno recordings (No Pussyfooting and Evening Star) I understand where the Fripp & Eno comparisons are coming from. Is Temple in the Clouds as good as these? No, I don't think so. But then again, I don't think those two will ever be surpassed; they're the original classics of ambient. Is this collaboration worthwhile? Yes, if you're into ambient sound-sculptures that still push the envelope a bit. While the four tracks on A Temple In the Clouds don't have the quiet, near-academic discipline and focus of No Pussyfooting or Evening Star, the four tracks on Temple in the Clouds are certainly mesmerizing, and surely as good as any of the non-dance-oriented trance that's come out this year (except, maybe, for Biosphere's things). The use of tape-loop sequences are somewhat less evident than on Fripp's earlier recordings, buried as they are in heavy keyboard washes. Titles like "Pillars of Hercules" and the title track, however, beautifully capture the mood of the piece.

The overall mood of this CD fits nicely with the Projekt catalog, and it is not hard to see why Fayman & Fripp went with Projekt instead of Fripp's regular outlets. No, this isn't No Pussyfooting II or Evening Star II, but it is an intense, layered CD that belongs in your collection if you like your ambient with a little touch of darkness.

Maybe it's just me, but I cannot listen to this CD without becoming utterly transported to some other world. It's not for actively 'listening to', but have it on while reading Lovecraft or some similar otherworldly tome, or while painting, or writing, or dozing... it gives me a delerium-like 'high'. I think something about the sounds and the semi-random noise induces some kind of alpha-waves or wakes up the right side of my brain or something. I found my first copy at the library and became addicted enough to buy the CD for myself. I wish I could find another album like this but I have not yet; no other ambient album does this for me. Alas!

I was a bit disappointed by this release; I expected a bit more Fripp. The CD sounds very good turned up loud with the surround sound option on. But to compare this to the Fripp and Eno recordings is misleading; its as if only small bits of Fripp's guitar is used/looped. Overall it is a pleasant listening experience.

Let me get right to the point: This CD *sucks*. I was looking forward to this release since the few reviews I read about it compared it to the Fripp & Eno releases. It's not even close. What we have here is 54 minutes of non distinct sound loops that go nowhere and compel the listener to be overwhelmed with boredom. It sounds like Fripp's creative input was to pluck a few strings and walk away, letting his sound machine drone on and on. There are no riffs, no solos, no music, just bland constipated noise incessantly repeated. And then there are the deceptive liner notes by Fayman that talk about recording this crap in some ancient temple. Not true! These Soundscape tapes are nine years old and Fripp gave (sold?) them to him. All he did was add some wind chimes and ocean waves sound effects. The question must be asked: Why did Fripp allow this to happen? At this time I have no answer to this. I can only hope he will address this point and clarify what must be a very embarrassing incident for him.

This recording is one of the best releases to experience if you're into "passive listening." As is Fripp's (and Brian Eno's) original intent, this ambient music is a great accompaniment to have going if you're doing something else in a more physical capacity (reading, walking / hiking, light housework, computering, etc.). Now that Fripp has retitled his "Frippertronics" technique as "soundscapes," it definitely adds a somewhat different audio dimension to his delivery and the end result, of course, is simply exquisite. Be sure to check out his similar work with Bill Rieflin and Trey Gunn .... Amazing stuff indeed!

This release though is highly recommended for those of you who enjoy listening to something different but still within a "passive" mode.

Great job, as always, Robert!!

If you like the soothing mercurial guitar lines in Fripp and Eno's Evening Star 's side one, you will like this cd for sure. Nothing new or spectacular, but really nice for quiet , relaxed listening.

Decent background music for relaxing. a couple of the tracks go way too long. If you are a fan of Eno's Ambient works, this is for you.

The collaboration between Jeffrey Fayman and Robert Fripp delivers four dreamy soundscapes, with an ambience that will play to the moods of the listener; the textures will develop around the feelings being projected.

The performances are fascinating and subtle, inspiring and beautiful....it harkens back to the wonderful Fripp-Brian Eno collaborations within this genre of art.

The music is fine , problem is that there are two discs,,both identical.I expected a two disc set, but they are both the same cuts.

As Robert Fripp and his colleague Jeffrey Fayman make their debut on the Projekt label, they join an artist roster that includes such spacey synthesists as Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana. The four-part Temple In The Clouds CD actually fits in fairly well with the works of Roach and Obmana. It consists of four variations on swirling, droning synthesized atmospherics with a few nature sounds thrown in (mainly ocean waves). The closest reference is Fripp's Soundscape series, where he used his "Frippertronics" style of guitar playing to create abstract tones and electronic "sound installations." (see also Fripp's collaborations with Brian Eno) The four pieces on Temple are lovely, majestic, drifting ambient themes. If you're a fan of King Crimson electric guitar, you might be a bit put off by this CD. If you like the Soundcapes, though, you ought to give it a try.