National Art Center Ottawa
Unless you were there at the time it’s hard to know if either of these conditions were met but listening to this show some 42 years later, it’s astonishing how its power remains undiminished.
The gradual build-up of harmonic layers with their evolving solos has a habit of pulling you in, inviting you to follow the various tributaries of melodies and patterns. There are times when those paths are breathtaking, heartfelt, and blissful, occasionally drawing upon some motifs from Fripp’s recent past such as the direct quote of the main theme of Starless at the end of the fifth piece.
To have heard it all resonating around the space at the time must have been wonderful. Having it in this format still feels incredibly special.