ROBERT FRIPP / THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN - GOD SAVE THE KING

Fripp's "The league of gentlemen" is an exceptional project. Robert's recognizeable style of guitar playing is - as usual - imposing a uniqe, hypnotic atmosphere, but - what is new - sometimes humorous climate. Other musicians aren't virtuosos but unexpectedly it is not a problem in this non-typical convention. From the other members of "The league..." I enjoy particularly Barry Andrews organ playing - maybe a little pushy and monotonyous in sound, but his role is for overestimating not on this LP. "God save the king" has it's own taste, very specific, but memorable. It is one of these albums, that could involve you, or reject. I'm of course one from the first group, and I want to advice this a little forgotten position in Fripp's discography. It as a fantastic experience, which was made in hard realities of eighties, and still sounds great. I don't want to differ any track, because album is kept in one mood, and I think it would be purposeless at this time.

The only album of The League of Genlemen I own. In fact , it's a compilation, you can find many of album songs in other releases.

For me, this album is something in between. I like Fripp's work in King Crimson, in some albums, where he's a additional musician, in some KC side-projects ( as ProjeKct,etc).

His solo works are a bit different thing. Don't want to speak about his soundscapes there, but his solo ( or solo with guitar band) albums have their strong side, and weak side.

As usual, they demonstrates high guitar technique and are perfect illustrations for frippertronic sounds. (There I am speaking about strong part). But very soon you will find them repetetive or even boring. In fact, it often a combination of very effective soun/technique, but all the album consists of this drop of elixir, repeated xxxxx time.

This album, as compilation, is a bit better. There are collected frippertronic's examples from different moments, so it's a bit more variable. Part of compositions even flirting with some more pop-oriented sound (disco-frippertronics?). But in total,we have the same result again: very interesting guitar technique and song structures after third,..., fifth,.... , sevens repeat become less and less attractive.

For sure, it's not a problem for Fripp/frippertronics maniacs.

In the late seventies, after King Crimson broke up (not permanently, thank dog) when Robert Fripp said "the top of his head blew off", Fripp first recorded the wonderful, but still King Crimson-like Exposure. He then tried some experiments to redefine his sound. First, on the above mentioned album, he added "Frippertronics", a method of using two tape recorders linked together and feeding back to each other to create a looping effect. He then tried varying his style. Since he was then living in the wrong end of the seventies, he tried incorporating the prevailing popular styles into his music. His foray into (yuck!) disco produced God Save The Queen/Under Heavy Manners. He then formed a punk band, The League of Gentlemen, to back his guitar pyrotechnics. This album is made up of selections from the two releases.

The disco album fared much worse of the two. While Fripp added some okay playing, the beats and riffs were just too repetitious to be anything but annoying. And off-key moaner David Byrne makes the track Under Heavy Manners embarrassing, if not completely unlistenable.

The League Of Gentlemen is much better. While the punk band can't really keep up with the Frippster's guitar, it appears that this was a stepping stone to what would become the next incarnation of Crimson.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

This compiled work of Fripp's is a bit of a hodge-podge. It's a cd I hardly ever listen to probably because it's simply not very good. The 13 minute opener has some Bowie 'Scary Monsters' going on but it's not very involving in any shape or form.

All the bawdy vocal snippets which gave it it's identity from previous editions have vanished leaving a somewhat sterile release. There's a caveat emptor here - If you're hoping to replace your vinyl beware! This is not the same album as the 1981 release. I really miss the 'Groupies' backstage whining and bitching from the original. They were lifted direct from an old 60's spoken word album in which groupies discuss the hardships and travails of being groupies - amusing and painful. Maybe Fripp couldn't get copyright clearance for this cd re-issue?

The vocals of David Byrne are a welcome addition but don't really cheer me up very much when I think what should have been. It's okay, but fans of the original will be disappointed. I suppose I should be glad just to have been able to ditch my old crackly vinyl to replace it with this sparkly crackle free cd.

One for diehard fans of 'Scary monsters' guitar out takes. It's alright, but ultimately disappointing.