Robert Fripp's Diary

World HQ Stuff Listening to

World HQ.

Stuff.

Listening to Helsinki Soundscaping. Upstairs the joiner has arrived with his son to redo the shelves, but my attention is being held by the music. I am finding this performance powerful and, out of associational interest, have consulted the first two reviews of this G3 night on Steve's website --

Theox Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 52 Location: Finland
Sat Jun 19, 2004 12:27 am Post subject:

http://www.vai.com/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=quote&p=57899&sid=64cb5c437ae8f376cec397c5500d1f46

-- Fripp opened the show. He wasn't like the "third G", he was more like a band member, playing unnoticed fills in the background. I didn't see him though, he was sitting somewhere in the back of the stage, I think. He played music that wasn't really a song, it was more like an atmosphere of sound.... A lot of people didn't get his set, after 10 minutes people were walking out of the place. I felt the same at first, but then I put myself in a meditative state and sat there feeling the music inside my head. After that I enjoyed it very much, and I felt sorry for those who gave up listening instead of finding a way to enjoy it.

This is one of the highest compliments I have been paid during my career: (RF) was more like a band member, playing unnoticed fills in the background. So far, so good.

Googolplex Newcomer Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Finland
Sat Jun 19, 2004 2:57 am Post subject:

http://www.vai.com/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=quote&p=57911&sid=64cb5c437ae8f376cec397c5500d1f46

The coolest thing in my life for a long time was getting Steve and Joe's autographs to my luminous green diMarzio -guitar strap.

Unfortunately I really must say that I personally didn't like Fripp's set. I'm sure most of the people watching came to see guitarplaying in the more normal sense (how's Vai for normal U ask... but I hope you get my point)

There wasn't really much melody going on, just these midi-sounding string tones flying around (which was cool - for a while - but not for 40 minutes for sure. Even though it was perhaps difficult to find those sounds and effect settings, I missed the point. If someone would have done the same with a synth, it would have been pretty lame. What I'm trying to say is that even though it was good, impressive and meditative perhaps, it didn't fit G3 at all. I felt a bit bad because I am sure he could do much better show if he would take a different approach as I know he could play almost anykind of music if he wanted.

Then presumably, Fripp was playing the kind of music he wanted?

10.00 Now to Gothenburg --

17.50 World HQ.

Joiners are continuing to join.

T & I took Jeff to lunch at the Lygon Arms in Broadway, a famous Cotswold village. We were originally booked in the Brasserie next door but, within one minute of being inside the door, I cancelled the reservation. The Noise Pollution Unit was set to Inappropriate Loud Rock-a-Pop That Is Disturbing To The Digestive Tract. Our reserved table was right underneath a speaker. Could the music be turned down? No. Could the speaker be disconnected? No. Could the music be turned off? No - it makes the atmosphere of the Brasserie.

Well, I agree with that: in-house music does contribute to the atmosphere of public places. And in this case, a bad atmosphere.

After lunch to Hidcote, a famous garden near Chipping Camden.

The pair of pavilions are among my favourite garden buildings --