Travis & Fripp - "Live At Coventry Cathedral" Review

Artist/ Band: Travis & Fripp
Title: Live At Coventry Cathedral
Label: Inner Knot
Year of Release: 2010
Offical Artist/ Band Link

The Review:

King Crimson’s Robert Fripp and Soft Machine’s Theo Travis collaboration has produced the album Threads and this live representation from the Coventry Cathedral. I believe it is appropriate for this concert to be in a church, as the music is regal, spiritual and divine. The acoustics of the venue and the sound produced by just the two of these incredible artists far surpasses what you could believe can come out of just two. At times it seems that there must be others joining in as the sounds are looping back and forth and music of the most mesmerizing sort is taking you away to the point almost on the edge of slumber. That magical world where you feel a heavy head and a buzzing that beckons you to dreamland.

The album features an ambient, ethereal quality about it. It is quiet and moody for most of its duration. We don’t even hear anything approaching an electric guitar sound until over 20 minutes into the CD. Travis’ flute and saxophone takes on qualities that you would not expect as well. It is two musicians playing together like they’ve been improving off one another for years.

It’s not very dynamic, not a lot of rises and falls; but it is tense, mood altering and trance-inducing. It’s production is absolutely gorgeous, rich and clean. Sometimes the angular side of Fripp’s personality comes to the fore and it takes on a captivating horror movie soundtrack turn. It keeps you engaged while causing you to think or zone, whatever your wish for the day is. It’s perfect daydreaming music.

Reviewed by Terry Jackson on June 30th, 2011

First Set:: 01. The Apparent Chaos of Stone (9:11); 02. In A Field Of Green (8:10); 03. The Unquestioned Answer (5:29); 04. Blue Calm (3:30); 05. Duet For The End Of Time (11:11)
Second Set:: 06. The Offering (9:11); 07. Angels In The Roof (3:52); 08. Moonchild (3:58); 09. Lamentation (19:00)