Writing in his diary at the time, Tony Levin seemed circumspect about this one and Presov: "Chemnitz in Germany, and Presov in Slovak Rep. were ... well, the audiences were very enthusiastic - a pleasure to play for". Whatever the reasons for TLev's reticence, listening to the last show in Germany reveals it to be something of a corker. There's an different kind of energy and attention in the rendition of One Time which hasn't always been present on other performances. Vrooom Vrooom has a real edge here, and B’Boom, with it’s spectral soundscape opening is one of the crispest of the tour.
There’s an excellent improv in the middle of Thrak. Set in motion by Ade playing 3OAPP-style piano arpeggios, the team embark on a jazzy excursion that erupts into some fiery interplay - Gunn’s lead soloing is brief but makes its point with great eloquence. Gunn also provides some tasteful notes to a blissful Sheltering Sky. Listen out at around the 3.30 mark when Fripp releases some ascending / descending arcs of spacey sound that he normally uses at the end of Thrak. Did his feet lie to him triggering the wrong patch on the pedal board or was it intentional? Who cares. It’s drop-dead gorgeous. Schizoid Man is nailed, pinning back the audience’s ears in such a manner that none of them within mic range think to yell “WOOO!” in the breaks!
