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Robert Fripp - Exposure CD (album) cover

EXPOSURE

Robert Fripp

 

Eclectic Prog

3.66 | 255 ratings

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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars "Exposure" is the debut full-length studio album by UK progressive/experimental rock artist Robert Fripp. The album was released through Polydor/E.G. in June 1979. After disbanding King Crimson in 1974 Robert Fripp had taken a break from the recording industry (more or less. He did a some live shows with Brian Eno in 1975) but returned as a session musician on Peter Gabrielīs debut solo album from 1977. After a very succesful collaboration with Brian Eno and David Bowie on the latterīs "Heroes (1977)" album, Robert Fripp must have felt the urge to work with music again because in the next couple of years he would participate on releases, write and produce a lot of music. In the liner notes to "Exposure", Robert Fripp explains that "Exposure" was originally conceived as the third part of a MOR trilogy. The first two parts being Peter Gabriel's second solo album, and Robert Frippīs collaboration with Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) on the latterīs debut solo album "Sacred Songs (1980)" (recorded in 1977 but not released until 1980.

"Exposure" is a very eclectic release featuring different genre elements and styles. Itīs the kind of release whereRobert Fripp goes out of his way to create an album as diverse as possible. Showing off every possible angle of his talent. The above mentioned Daryl Hall originally layed down vocals on seven tracks on the album but because of a legal hazzle with Daryl Hallī management (one Tommy Mottola) and his record company RCA his contributions were cut down to vocals on two tracks. The rest of the tracks, that originally featured vocals by Daryl Hall appeared on the original "Exposure" release with re-recorded vocals by Peter Hammill (Van Der Graaf Generator). Peter Gabriel also contributes to the album with his "Here Comes the Flood" in a stripped down version that to my ears beats the original. The 2006 re-issue includes both the original album, a 1983 re-mix release and five bonus tracks. Some of the latter includes the original vocal tracks by Daryl Hall.

Stylistically the music is in styles like rockīnīroll, pop, progressive rock and instrumental sound experiments. Those looking for something that sounds like King Crimson will probably be very disappointed even though a song like "Breathless" does sound like an outtake from the "Red (1974)" sessions (and there are a few other places on the album that are reminiscent of King Crimson). Itīs the kind of album where Iīm thinking one moment that it sounds really great and the next that it sounds experimental for the sake of it. Iīll say the good outweights the bad though and a 3 star (60%) rating is deserved. Itīs not a very cohesive or strong album when you look at it as a whole though. More a collection of more or less interesting experiments.

UMUR | 3/5 |

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