The section where Fripp plays the strings under Gunn’s solo on Heavy ConstruKction could make a grown person swoon. Such a beautiful moment. Of course they’d refine this into the coda of Thrush, which tonight has Gunn supplying the solo. Though he’s still to pick the broader tone which we normally associate with that tune, he’s clearly trying out different approaches (lead lines/ sustained/ clipped sorties/ bass end) to this undoubted jewel in P2’s crown.
Live Groove has some wonderful drifting clouds of cosmic debris percolating through Adrian’s blast and bluster as well fiery shards from Fripp. Modified sitar-guitar sparkles briefly before Fripp reconsiders and sets about tearing the place up, whooping and wailing for all he’s worth. Gunn’s roaring entrance at around the 4.45 mark also makes for powerful ju-ju but also appears to sap the team’s collective energy shortly after. Not quite jazz or rock (or even jazz-rock).
After a twinkling Vector Shift, a somewhat inconclusive Search For Sagittarius A and a cautious Sector Shift, it’s as though the band have paused for breath, taken stock and are ready to engage once again. The insistent beats of House stoke up the players with Fripp offering his most powerfully rhapsodic playing of the night. Gunn’s by comparison gets all thrashy and there are moments that put you mind of the Sailor’s Tale’s exhilarating flailing.
