The blue stained glass window dominating the Trinity chapel of Salisbury cathedral is known as the Prisoner of Conscience window.[endtease] Installed in 1980, the dean of the cathedral said it represented ''the call of a man to a higher power, to the universal, uttered in a terrible moment of doubt and loneliness.'' It’s not such a stretch to suppose that these themes might also present in this remarkable set.
The seventh date of the UK Churchscape tour, Fripp had last performed there for four days in June 1997. Though his appearance nine years later might be shorter in duration, it is just as long in terms of commitment, melodic exploration and that rapturous aspect, that ineffable “X” factor which some Soundscapes have in spades. The main theme on Time Stands Still appears to invoke the aching melody from Starless - if not the actual notes then the same yearning feel.
From there, Queer Space Harmonic seems to address precisely the areas outlined by dean in his appreciation of the stained glass window. These two tracks when combined with the devastating beauty of At The End Of Time make this a truly exceptional set even by the already high standards set by other performances on this, and other tours.
