The cumulative toll of traveling around Europe on a tour bus with its pattern of interrupted sleep, discomfort, and the ongoing issue of non-consensual photography had resulted in Robert Fripp being one seriously unhappy camper. His mood of course had an effect on others in the band leading to some feeling they were not walking on air but eggshells.
Yet listening to the audio, divorced from the personal and micro-political issues, it seems remarkable that even in such compromised circumstances the individual Crims rise above the challenges of their situation to deliver a show that ascends some powerful peaks.
While the set possesses real momentum, here and there as things progress, the focus slips as the guitarists cope with on-the-fly issues. Fripp’s verdict? “Another fucking spoiled evening. My playing has suffered in response to the constant photography. Or maybe I'm just not playing well. . . I am not playing well, and that disturbs me.”
Following this show Fripp asked guitar tech John Sinks, to reposition his rig at 90 degrees to the front of the stage, resulting in him facing away from the audience more than usual.
Yet listening to the audio, divorced from the personal and micro-political issues, it seems remarkable that even in such compromised circumstances the individual Crims rise above the challenges of their situation to deliver a show that ascends some powerful peaks.
While the set possesses real momentum, here and there as things progress, the focus slips as the guitarists cope with on-the-fly issues. Fripp’s verdict? “Another fucking spoiled evening. My playing has suffered in response to the constant photography. Or maybe I'm just not playing well. . . I am not playing well, and that disturbs me.”
Following this show Fripp asked guitar tech John Sinks, to reposition his rig at 90 degrees to the front of the stage, resulting in him facing away from the audience more than usual.
