It had been a bit of a day for the Crims traveling from Montreal where they’d performed the day before to Hamilton. With a couple of the band nearly missing the flight and their luggage delayed, as Robert tries to buy some yogurt he’s asked for autographs but records in his journal at the time that he’s “not in the mood.”
The concert itself in a gymnasium on the university campus was remembered by a then 18-year old punter, John Harris as an impressive show. “The most memorable moment for me was during Fracture. Fripp was mostly in darkness and was wearing black but at the 7.40 mark when the guitar kicks in, a moving light showed Fripp’s face with a big grin.”
The reading of Fracture here is indeed memorable but buyers should note that this is a pretty grim-sounding audience recording with enthusiastic conversations intruding into the quieter moments of the show. However, as the sound settles down and your ears acclimatise there’s a lot to enjoy across the gig including the improvisation that follows on from Fracture.
In terms of the rhythmic part of the improv and the soloing over Bruford’s fusillade, this one occupies a territory similar to the track Providence. The Mellotron flute interlude when things subside moves into a very different area that includes a chord sequence that sounds very like a song idea being tossed around. After the show, Fripp noted in his journal, "Thoroughly enjoyable. Interesting and different blow - very twitchy but exciting. Well received."
