The latest album from Travis & Fripp, Live At Coventry Cathedral, has received some thumbs-up from the critics. writing in today’s edition of The Times, John Bungey sets the scene thus: “A guitarist, a flautist and a cathedral: all three carry equal credit for inspiring this brooding, improvised epic.”
Writing in Jazzwise, Andy Robson notes that “together they create a special otherness. For starters Fripp plays straighter (as far as he ever does) guitar than in the churchscapes as he now has Travis to create those lyrical tidal washes behind, through and over him...Nor do either tip into ambient excess: indeed Travis’ tones push fripp into dark, at times yawning gasps of despair: this is music for a Coventry that’s been blitzed, not some New Age noodlefest. For all its airy freedom and marshmallow skies, the music remains disciplined and at times heart-rendingly poignant.”
The Wire praises the way in way Travis & Fripp weave together “contrasting but ultimately sympathetic musical imaginations. The pleasure of these improvisations is the fluidity of roles.” Writing about their version of Moonchild, John Kelman at All About Jazz observes “As would be expected from this duo, however, song form is largely dispensed with and, instead, flute, guitar, and electronics mine the melody at the song's core, as Travis and Fripp improvise at a level far beyond Crimson's nascent capabilities four decades ago.”
You can read my take on the album over on the blog. You can order the album from the Panegyric store at Burning Shed.
Writing in Jazzwise, Andy Robson notes that “together they create a special otherness. For starters Fripp plays straighter (as far as he ever does) guitar than in the churchscapes as he now has Travis to create those lyrical tidal washes behind, through and over him...Nor do either tip into ambient excess: indeed Travis’ tones push fripp into dark, at times yawning gasps of despair: this is music for a Coventry that’s been blitzed, not some New Age noodlefest. For all its airy freedom and marshmallow skies, the music remains disciplined and at times heart-rendingly poignant.”
The Wire praises the way in way Travis & Fripp weave together “contrasting but ultimately sympathetic musical imaginations. The pleasure of these improvisations is the fluidity of roles.” Writing about their version of Moonchild, John Kelman at All About Jazz observes “As would be expected from this duo, however, song form is largely dispensed with and, instead, flute, guitar, and electronics mine the melody at the song's core, as Travis and Fripp improvise at a level far beyond Crimson's nascent capabilities four decades ago.”
You can read my take on the album over on the blog. You can order the album from the Panegyric store at Burning Shed.
