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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: "YES" or great concerts.
Message-ID: <1142@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 28-Jun-85 20:07:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.1142
Posted: Fri Jun 28 20:07:23 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 04:41:33 EDT
References: <1104@pyuxd.UUCP> <1150041@acf4.UUCP> <1122@pyuxd.UUCP> <1176@peora.UUCP>
Organization: Whatever we're calling ourselves this week
Lines: 32

> > Topographic was an album with some interesting ideas that were not executed
> > in the best manner. ...  Ironically, the Topographic might have been even
> > more unanchored if Bruford had still been the drummer.
> 
> Could you expand on this idea a little more, Rich?  It sounds interesting.
> -- 
> Shyy-Anzr:  J. Eric Roskos

All I was saying was that there are interesting sections of music on the
Topographic album, including Wakeman's contributions to side two (The
Remembering), Squire's contributions to side four (Ritual---for which he
now performs an extended overly pompous and self-indulgent solo, quite the
opposite of his disciplined role in prior incarnations of the band), all
of side three (The Ancient---the best side on the album and the one that
best provides a solid continuing framework for an extended composition).
However, rarely does a whole side come together well as a "piece", an
ability that seemed to come to them and then leave them with "Close to the
Edge".  In fact, an interview with the band in about 1974 indicated that during
the Edge tour they worked so hard to perform a piece like "Edge" that they
really worked up a sweat performing it, but after Topographic and Relayer it
was like nothing.  I think it showed---I think compositionally the pieces
from Topographic on AS EXTENDED PIECES were much weaker despite moments of
good music, and that may be the reason that it was "like nothing".  After
Bruford's departure, White was deliberately chosen by Anderson BECAUSE he was
a "down to earth" hard rock drummer who could anchor the band rhythmically.
(Ask Fripp or Levin about how hard it was to get Bruford to do anything of
the sort in King Crimson mark XLII!)  The Topographic album often wanders off
into space thematically, and without White at the drums it might have been
even more unanchored than it was.
-- 
Like a bourbon?  (HIC!)  Drunk for the very first time...
			Rich Rosen   ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr