With King Crimson on hold since their live reunion of 2008, the arrival of this unexpected instalment of the ProjeKct series in 2011, containing a suite of finely crafted, mid-paced songs, stood in stark contrast to previous releases bearing the ProjeKct title.
The catalysing force this time is guitarist/vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, the only non-Crimson member present, who took the results of a single day of improvising between himself and Fripp and developed that raw material into a series of songs which Fripp himself would later describe as “a stunning sonic tapestry, carefully woven and satisfying to the ear.”
In addition to the soundscapes that underpin much of the album, Fripp leans into the yearning romanticism that has often been present in his work, with clean, sparse lines carving an aching melancholy into the material.
Mel Collins, playing with Fripp for the first time since his guest appearance on King Crimson’s Red in 1974 similarly adds a haunting melodicism that sweeps eloquently into the spaces created by his colleagues.
At the time of its release, Fripp observed that A Scarcity Of Miracles was "one of my favourite albums of those where I am a determining element. It has the Crimson gene, but it is not quite KC.” Nevertheless, the album, which also features Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison throughout, can definitely be regarded as a precursor to the new incarnation of King Crimson that would later emerge.
Not only were all of the personnel on the album drafted into the new line-up of Crimson in 2014, but both The Light Of Day and the title track, A Scarcity Of Miracles were featured in the new band’s setlist when King Crimson returned to active service that year.
Robert Fripp’s sleeve notes for A Scarcity Of Miracles.
The beginning of A Scarcity Of Miracles was an afternoon meeting of two guitaring pals in SoundWorld I of the crumbling DGM HQ, part of the Village Store and Butcher’s Shop on a Wiltshire country road. A meeting with no expectations: extemporising and improvising hold open a space so the future may present itself within it. Jakko took away the sound files, developed the ideas; Mel heard unplayed sax waiting to be given voice; Gavin and Trev were willing to contribute; hence JF&C with L&H.
At this point, unexpectedly, the project became a ProjeKct. Unexpected, but not surprising given the Crimson gene pool. And, for the first time since 1981, the gene pool drawn upon is more English than American, in ratio 4:1. This unexpectedness is welcome: it suggests more is going on than could be predicated merely on what has gone before. Yet, once here, there is familiarity; like meeting a close member of the family for the first time.
This Download contains the 2 bonus tracks from the 2 disc dvd-a release.
The catalysing force this time is guitarist/vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, the only non-Crimson member present, who took the results of a single day of improvising between himself and Fripp and developed that raw material into a series of songs which Fripp himself would later describe as “a stunning sonic tapestry, carefully woven and satisfying to the ear.”
In addition to the soundscapes that underpin much of the album, Fripp leans into the yearning romanticism that has often been present in his work, with clean, sparse lines carving an aching melancholy into the material.
Mel Collins, playing with Fripp for the first time since his guest appearance on King Crimson’s Red in 1974 similarly adds a haunting melodicism that sweeps eloquently into the spaces created by his colleagues.
At the time of its release, Fripp observed that A Scarcity Of Miracles was "one of my favourite albums of those where I am a determining element. It has the Crimson gene, but it is not quite KC.” Nevertheless, the album, which also features Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison throughout, can definitely be regarded as a precursor to the new incarnation of King Crimson that would later emerge.
Not only were all of the personnel on the album drafted into the new line-up of Crimson in 2014, but both The Light Of Day and the title track, A Scarcity Of Miracles were featured in the new band’s setlist when King Crimson returned to active service that year.
Robert Fripp’s sleeve notes for A Scarcity Of Miracles.
The beginning of A Scarcity Of Miracles was an afternoon meeting of two guitaring pals in SoundWorld I of the crumbling DGM HQ, part of the Village Store and Butcher’s Shop on a Wiltshire country road. A meeting with no expectations: extemporising and improvising hold open a space so the future may present itself within it. Jakko took away the sound files, developed the ideas; Mel heard unplayed sax waiting to be given voice; Gavin and Trev were willing to contribute; hence JF&C with L&H.
At this point, unexpectedly, the project became a ProjeKct. Unexpected, but not surprising given the Crimson gene pool. And, for the first time since 1981, the gene pool drawn upon is more English than American, in ratio 4:1. This unexpectedness is welcome: it suggests more is going on than could be predicated merely on what has gone before. Yet, once here, there is familiarity; like meeting a close member of the family for the first time.
This Download contains the 2 bonus tracks from the 2 disc dvd-a release.
