Heading down the post-Prog turnpike with a batch of Robert Fripp and Peter Gabriel records.

Robert Fripp

God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners – I am a huge fan of Frippertronics, and especially the cyclical, un-even, out-of-phase phrases that he loops.  I freakin’ love it.  I have done a bit of experimentation with it, too, writing what I call “Frippcycles” into some of my yet-un-recorded compositions.  It’s hard to play live, with humans, when the effect is so heavily relying on each phrase being exactly in time.  But still…I love it.  This album is wicked weird.  I totally dig it.

Let the Power Fall – Another Frippertronics record.  It’s interesting, but this one has a much slower build throughout, making it feel more like Minimalism than God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners did.  My copy has a really terrible warp, which would add nicely to the ambience, if only the needle would play through.  I have to start the thing (on both sides) about 1 minute in.  Drag.

Peter Gabriel

I (Car) – A great one!  Not my favorite, though.  Just, personally, I think it’s really fun, but not as focused as the others…

III (Melt) – Now, that’s a record!  I love this one, and I always have.  Fripp is absolutely brilliant on this album, and Tony Levin(!) is a genius.  “No Self Control,” and most wonderful of all, “Family Snapshot,” which totally rules.  Given the sonic landscape, the composing, the arranging, the playing, the players, the awesomeness, this is easily a top 20 record for me (regardless of genre).  Hipgnosis designed the cover (same as I), which is also notable – worked for Pink Floyd, et al.

Plays Live – A great album, although the positive aspects of a live album are a bit different for me.  That is, “Live” albums that are just re-performances of what is on the studio record are not that interesting to me.  That doesn’t mean this is a bad record, just…well, for the ears looking for something really different from the original versions…a bit…boring.  The band is amazing!  And PG sounds fantastic!  But it’s not very adventurous.  All hail: Tony Levin!

So – I remember being in 7th Grade Biology class after placing an order with Columbia House for a batch of cassettes.  Man, did I love Columbia House!  It seemed to be the least expensive way for me to be exposed to tons of music, that is, until I discovered the local used record store (Archives – named for the Rush trilogy).  So, there was I was in Biology, doing my best to pay attention, but really only running down the list of cassettes I had ordered, hoping they would arrive “today.”  When that day came, So was in the box.  That was, I think the last thing I opened.  I had gotten a flavor for Eddie Grant and Musical Youth and probably a Hall & Oates and Billy Joel cassette, but then, put on So.  I was floored.  I stopped and listened to the whole thing, flipping to side 2, then back to side 1 to start it all over again.  This, however, being an LP, I’m one track short of a full deck.  I love this album.  I love the way it sounds, I love the writing, the arranging, the performances, I love Tony Levin’s playing and Kate Bush.  This album is a must own, for sure.

Enjoy, Rick