Around 20.30 yesterday, because no-one had mentioned Solution Brut in the fridge, I convened the Team and we toasted the anniversaries of birth & marriage. Then I went back to e-office work: Crimson are hoping to play in Europe late May 2000.
David Vermette has sent us several baseball hats. Mine, selected by the other Crims (they took all of them but one, which is a default selection I suppose) is "Eeyore". I shall give this to Sister who loves this item of American fashion accessory (my official G3 cap is a favourite of hers). Thank you David.
David's brother Mark attended the first Guitar Craft course in March 1985. Mark asked, in a group meeting towards the end of the course, "Does Guitar Craft have a future?". At the time this was the first of only 3 GC courses in the calendar, so Mark's question was valid. I considered it while reclining in the bath (a favoured place of reflection) and a particular picture / image came to my mind's eye. The answer to Mark's question, given in response at a later group meeting, was "Yes. Guitar Craft does have a future". The picture remains with me, as does the answer.
Dan the Webmeister enquires on the Guestbook as to how Adrian might sing and play remarkably difficult & different things simultaneously. Part of the answer is, he's very good at it. As I QWERTY this diary entry, Adrian walks by, so I ask him.
"It's like independence on the piano, with left & right hands. You split your concentration. One has to become automatic. For me, singing and playing guitar, that's the guitar and then I can put more attention on the singing".
15.26
A guitar solo from RF for "Frying Pan", more of a tasty cameo appearance, and a Soundscape for the end of the piece. Comping and a rough mix are now underway by Adrian & Ken with Pat in supportive attendance. Hey! It sounds good from the basement next door. I hope it has a choice phrase, a simple but suggestive line, such as I admire so much in the work of Ian McDonald.
19.17
Beast! Beast! On my right ear, "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part IV". On my left ear, "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part V". Returning from a bout of feeding & shopping, I went into the control room to check in. Ken is rough-mixing "Larks' IV" with Pat sitting behind. Yow! Each section moves forwards and each time I thought - "Enough already!". Then, next section, the ratchet turns once again. Like, power chording in 11/8 from the 3 guitarists and Pat puts a triple fill through the middle of it. Then, triple offsets on the main theme & a descending bridge. Peace at last? Right. An outbreak of guitar in 15/8 at 138 splattering over the top of a rhythm section there to support the guitarist by stomping all over him! I left the room, unable to handle more Crim mayem. Until Trey said - "You wanna hear it?". So, into the garage for the Fairy Fingers on "Larks' V".
Trey has found what was needed here.
TG: What d'you think?.
RF: It's on the edge. I don't know what it's on the edge of, but I know it's on the edge of it. And it's ambiguous. And definite. Definitely ambiguous.
BM: Is that a good thing?
RF: If you like ambiguity.
20.51
Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa! We've listened to our first almost-complete aural through-view of the album (missing "Larks' V"). Not for the squeamish. Nor for wives. Not for friends of Jeff Carlyle. And (without ambiguity) not for anyone who doesn't already know the plot.
For interrogation. For stilling neighbours. For clearing the sinuses. For demonstrating what 30 years of strangeness can amount to, when practised.
Crimson records usually make some attempt to engage the audience. This one makes none. It is utterly without compromise. Most people will hate it. No radio station will play it. For the record to make sense, most people will have to see/hear Crimson live. And who cares? By now, we know how this works: Crimson plays it, nearly everyone hates it, eventually someone explains it to those who hate it, and they still don't get it or care to get it. Then, Crimson takes a break for between 3-10 years, retrospectives appear in the press, the "legendary" group returns to more or less the same level of dislike, antipathy, lack of interest and devotion as before.
Robert Christgau will not like this record.
"A discipline that does not lead to a compassionate practice may be said to have failed."
