Fast Lane

“Welcome to the League Of Gentlemen,” says Fripp but not quite. Before he can get to the end of his customary greeting an over-eager punter gets his attention. “You’ve called my name, sir, enough times for me to respond. Thank you,” he chides the loudmouth as he then goes on to designate the floor a dancer-only spot. Sounding a bit like the only sober person in a room full of drunks but still ready to mix it up, a clearly unimpressed Fripp returns to the mic after Inductive Resonance, Trap and Heptaparaparshinokh to say, “You call that dancing?” Loudly audible someone hollers back “Rock ’n’ roll, Bob.” Such is life in Asbury Park’s Fast Lane and given a slightly unruly element the only option is to knock them into the ground like tent pegs which they do with Boy At Piano, an absolutely stomping Christian Children and a hurtling version of Dislocated that nearly blows the place apart. Apropos of nothing it’s interesting to note that the steady foundational bassline enabling Thrang Thrang Gozinbulx III’s manic energies to flourish closely resembles the function and the line underpinning Vrooom more than a decade later. Also, have a close listen out to the very clear baton-exchanges passing between Fripp and Andrews on Minor Man. Yet another reminder of how much research and development was undertaken during his time with this small dance combo.