Fripp comments on his diary “The audience were supportive & generous, and the sound contained & tuned to the room; that is, not loud. Onstage, the sound was interesting. Very much a beginning again performance, with simple errors.”
Some of the errors Robert refers to can clearly be heard on tracks such as Elektrik, Level Five and FaKCts of Life. Yet so often with Crimson, the potential threat of an below par performance are turned around and the act of recovering from the brown moments and missteps adds another frisson to the proceedings.
Consequently Oyster Soup is even more of a roller-coaster ride than is usual complete with an unexpected coda from Ol Spider Fingers. The version of LTIA is an astonishing bulldozer in which Fripp’s fast running lines are delivered with both accuracy and gusto whilst Pat ensures there’s a rockier than usual punch to the track.