DAMAGE - LIVE (WITH ROBERT FRIPP)

I'm astonished not to find any review of Damage because I think it goes further in achievement than The First Day, which I would give "only" 4 stars. Jean the Birdman is the only tune from the studio album not present here, but The First Day, which silently closes Damage, is not on the eponymous CD. Damage also includes some of the most beautiful songs by Sylvian, whose singing is at its best here. For a live album, the songs are mostly shorter than in studio, but tenser, whether calm or violent. The guitar of Michael Brooks is "infinitely" welcomed (he played support act in Paris and probably during this tour (?). Fripp's sounds are deliciously all-pervading, sharp and shrilling. The whole CD reflects very well the extraordinary atmosphere of the November 1993 Paris concert. The audience was all ears and intense. Try to get the black and silver box edition containing a golden CD and 2 booklets. Five of a perfect duo. P.S. for all collaborators: Who will write reviews about Ame Son (some 30 years ago, I used to own an LP called Catalyse of this French band; Third Ear Band (I remember they did Polansky's Macbeth soundtrack); Incredible String Band; Kraftwerk; Go (Yamashta- Winwood-Shrieve)...