Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 08:51:26 -0500 From: rspeak <rspeak at comcast dot net> Subject: Fripp's production
An interview w/ Gabriel regarding RF's work on the second PG album.
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/music/article/0,1299,DRMN_54_1578239,00.html
The second album was rushed, but it was partly because I was working with Robert Fripp. He said: 'Why do you need to take all this time? We can do an album in six weeks.' I said, 'Well, OK, I'm willing to give it a try.'
But the songs hadn't had enough time to mature. The arrangements were less interesting because there wasn't enough time to make them different or special. Of my solo records, it was therefore the least satisfying.
In Sid Smith's diary post on 12/8/2002;
TCOL was marred by a woolly production and the sound of punches being pulled.
Of all of the things that Fripp and Crimson do well, audiophile recordings are not one of them. Production wise ELP, Genesis, and Pink Floyd from the 70s were way ahead of the 70's Crim. And in the eighties the production gap grew even more. Compare Discipline to Yes 902whatever and the Polices Synchronicity, also compare Beat to Roxy Musics Avalon or Gabriels Security. Most critics rip Fripps production on Gabriels second album. And most agree Sylvians remix of Damage is better that Fripps. Even the Fripp/Sylvian studio album the first Day is a better production than tCoL. And this is not just my opinion, even Trey Gunn expressed concerns about the bass mix on tCoL. Have you heard any of Trent Reznors work or even Rob Zombies Hellbilly Deluxe or Bowies last couple. They are sonic masterpieces (even if you dont like the music). Fripp is not a "production" guy, he seems to prefer to capture the moment "as it is".
Did you notice how little difference there is between the sound of the studio tracks and the live tracks on Red? (please, don't tell me that I need a $5000 system to hear how good they really are.)
Of course they don't have the big budget some of the other bands do.
In general Crimson is a good/great band in spite of their album productions and perhaps that is why they are so much better live than they are on album. There is no way that the Police or Yes could recreate their "studio sound" live.
Perhaps it is the production that stops them from going (a little more)mainstream.
I am hoping that "Power.." will be the exception.
Bob
(I do know that the music comes first)