NIL RECURRING

A logical extension of the type of music heard on "Fear of a Blank Planet" and, as a result, is hurt by the lack of creative song writing and sonic variety which hurt that album's overall quality. "Nil Recurring" has a few moments of genuine brilliance in say, the return of Wilson's quite, delicate vocal deliveries and the band's use of Barbieri's considerable keyboard talents, but as a whole I maintain that these song's heavy elements are present merely because they are expected-- they are contrived and near the level of pointlessness. "Cheating the Polygraph" might be the worst song the group has ever recorded.

That being said, "Nil Recurring" is still fun. Fripp's frantic solo in the opening track is one of his best in a long time, and so long as Wilson isn't chugging out metal riffs to Harrison's crashing symbols the album has a fine energy and solid groove. "What Happens Now" is more original than anything on "Fear of a Blank Planet", and "Normal" outshines its full-length counterpart on that album as well.

Fans of "Fear of a Blank Planet" will be wholly satisfied, while fans of PT's stellar earlier output will be waiting for their favorite band to return.

Songwriting: 3 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 3 Style/Emotion/Replay: 2