Although it sounds like it’s been recorded from a mic near the bar judging the sound of bottles being opened in the early parts of The Letters, there’s a good vibe to this gig. The Improv (elements of LTIA 1 and Lament) feels more flowing on this reading and there’s a terrific Mel Collins solo after the main section.
Once Mel goes unaccompanied we veer into the good humoured territory of duck calls, in-jokes and generally larking about. Wallace nevertheless whips up a storming drum solo which is well appreciated by the punters in the Marquee.
After an impromptu break the VCS 3 treated drum solo begins and ushers in a wall of noise screeching sax and another stunning sustained guitar solo. Fripp sounds as though he’s more comfortable on this section than he was the previous evening. For all the hair-raising sounds he produces it’s a reflective piece. As it ends, a cash register is rung and the band slip seamlessly back into the LTIA running lines: cue HUGE audience response.
An energetic Schizoid Man contains a scorching guitar solo followed by Mel Collins on devastatingly good form, pushing and driving the piece along with an inventive ferocity that is simply astonishing. A pity we are robbed of the complete track just as it’s about to go into the whirling wind-up.
