Comparable to Eno’s recent Curiosities series this selection has been compiled by the man himself [endtease]and gathers together a sequence of sketches, out-takes, work in progress and alternative mixes of which many are being made commercially available for the first time.
Timean Sparkles has a chiming melody evoking associations with the title track of their classic 1975 recording Evening Star, whilst the related Hopeful Timean has Fripp’s sound stripped bare, delicately plucked notes against one of Eno’s elusive ethereal backdrops. It’s simple but wonderfully effective blend.
Though there are plenty of languid atmospherics to go around in this selection, Eno has also chosen to present some of their more rhythmic adventures.
More processed than polished, Fripp’s patented laser-beam soloing on The Idea Of Decline is set against a highly filtered up-tempo bedrock of dub-funk replete with glitches, short-wave radio angst and the occasional choral effect.
Up beat in extremis is the metallic headbanging of Cross Crisis In Lust Storm. This piece dates back to Eno’s abandoned My Squelchy Life in 1992 and also has Trey Gunn on Stick. Talking to John Schaeffer on the WNYC New Sounds radio programme at that time Eno commented “This is Fripp in one of what I think is possibly his best ever recorded performances. It’s an amazing piece of playing. When he heard it after he played it he said ‘that’s the best thing I’ve ever played Captain!’ So it’s not only my judgement.”
A companion piece to their other albums, Unreleased Works of Startling Genius provides a fascinating insight into the artistic processes of two influential musicians at work and at play.
Please note that this download is now available on CD where it has been renamed Beyond Even and is available in a special 2 disc limited edition. CD1 offers the first 12 pieces in segued form, while CD 2 offers the 13 pieces individually.
