Slow Music's English guitarist noted "two differentish sets. Possibly the second was the strongest.[endtease] Perhaps any first set is, in part, a negotiation of the listening space?" Interestingly it seems as though the usual opening caution adopted in their previous gigs is set aside, as various members jump ship and go exploring. There's a surprising assertiveness and sureness of direction with the sci-fi sonorities that make up the ensemble's opening gambit. Melodic possibilities are opened up with an overt use of old-school synth-timbre in this performance, Fripp’s terse sustain-driven laser-beam lines and Pete Buck’s crooked jazz stylings. Mat Chamberlain operating at the foreground, moves the pulse across an undulating terrain with small adornments being made around him for much of the second set, whilst Fred Challenor confines himself largely to work with bow. “…a group is a dynamic organism - changing just one part can radically alter how things function and work together” observed Bill Rieflin, speaking about his approach to improvising. This is certainly the case throughout this particular gig. Tension is maintained via a series of interleaving sweeps and scurried interventions delivered in an almost confrontational manner, challenging the gaps and rests being left by other members of the ensemble.
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