DAVID SYLVIAN & ROBERT FRIPP: THE FIRST DAY

3.5 stars. I love the cover with these two very talented guys... laughing. What a combination though, the master guitarist Robert Fripp and the singer song writer with the low ranged vocals David Sylvian. Trey Gunn the present KING CRIMSON bass player adds his talents here as well.

The record opens with "God's Monkey" that features some cool percussion and some great Frippian guitar melodies. David's vocals aren't as deep and warm as in some of his solo records,maybe because these songs are more uptempo he's singing in a different range. "Jean The Birdman" is an example of this, a catchy song with fast paced vocals. "Firepower" is my favourite song here, it's a lot heavier, and the guitar is more upfront. The vocals are processed and the guitar melodies are beautiful. "Brightness Falls" has some good riffs and a Frippian guitar solo 2 minutes in and later on as well.

"20th Century Dreaming" has Fripp playing some unique guitar lines and about the last 8 minutes or so we have a spacey atmosphere with drums creating a hypnotic beat. "Darshan" has this dance like beat throughout thanks to the percussion, while Fripp is playing his melodies and David is just saying "darshan" for about the first five minutes until adding more lyrics to the beat after that. This is over 17 minutes long. "Bringing Down The Light" is Mr.Fripp doing his Frippian spacey soundscapes for 8 1/2 minutes.

This is a good album that is worth checking out. My only minor complaint is on the longer songs that just play the same beat and melody far too long, it reminds me of some of the psychedelic bands that jam on and on, only not nearly as good.