Released: 1993
Tracks: Kan-non Power; Yamanashi Blues; Hope; Chromatic Fantasy; Contrapunctus; Bicycling to Afghanistan; Blue; Blockhead; Passacaglia; Threnody for Souls in Torment
Best track: Hope
Track to skip: nothing really sucks on here, but not a lot really grabs me
Robert Fripp is excellent, Trey Gunn is excellent, and the California Guitar Trio are excellent. In theory, and occasionally in reality, this group of 5 musicians (aka the RFSQ) sounds like a dream come true for music lovers. Most of this CD isn’t like that though. As witnessed from this CD and the video Live in Japan, when this group focuses on certain songs they are unstoppable. I think my biggest problem with this CD is how the trio’s songs (they all appear on their first album, Yamanashi Blues) don’t sound good with the addition of Fripp and Gunn. They’re great compositions but Fripp and Gunn don’t add anything and they actually take away from the songs themselves. These songs are Kan-non Power, Yamanashi Blues & Blockhead. All three of these are way superior when played by the CGT themselves.
The times when this string quintet really works are on tracks like Afghanistan, Passacaglia & especially Hope. I just have to comment on how amazing and utterly perfect this song is. Possibly the most moving piece of music I’ve ever heard. It goes without saying it’s the highlight of this disc. I love these other two songs as well; they’re all excellent. The rest of the album is filled out with a Trey Gunn solo spot (Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy, one that Gunn does much better on the video), a Fripp/Gunn duo (Blue, which is pretty good and features an out of place Starless quote), and a menacing solo Fripp soundscape (Threnody…an evil thing, but I’ve heard him get WAY more evil out of his guitar).
All in all it’s a disappointing disc. They are better on the video, which I recommend. Besides THRaKaTTaK (the worst thing any of these guys have ever been associated with) this is probably the worst disc by any of these guys. Bicycling to Afghanistan and Hope are essential and excellent, but you can get Hope on the DGM sampler. Well, like I said, a disappointment considering the talent of these 5 guys.
Rating: 73
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