Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxd!rlr 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