Andy Summers Live at Radio City Music Hall 1988-09-07 and at the New Haven Palace 1988-09-09 Both Full Eye-popping Sets, mp3 samples and artwork included
This is sort of a repost of a torrent long gone bye.
You would think that this music would have a *slight* resemblance to the Police, wouldn't you? In fact it isn't even in the same universe as rock music. It more closely resembles early Frippertronics ca 1979, but it isn't randomly done in the least. This music is not experimental as you will see. Both sets have the same platform, but are performed differently.
This music is an outgrowth of the Fripp-Summers album "I Advanced Masked", but unlike that album, this music is full of wide open spaces, vistas, and landscapes if you will. It is deeply meditative, calm for the most part, and organized.
That isn't a backup band playing with Mr. Summers, he arrived solo on stage with a single, vertical container crammed full of equipment. The base tracks were programmed at least in part, and allowed for a certain amount of freedom for improvisation. Certain effects were achieved with pedals, some were done with switches on his guitar. Like Fripp before him, much thought must have gone into making a platform for producing this kind of sound.
That having been said, the two shows do sound remarkably different. I do think Mr. Summers was in awe of actually being on stage at Radio City. Not only does he himself sound impressed, the show itself is studied and very carefully played. Compare that with the looser, off-the-cuff playing in New Haven during the next show. If for no other reason, the pressure of having to play at Radio City was gone, and perhaps he could relax.
In my opinion, this sort of music works better when played with tighter controls. This means I like the RC show better. Maybe you don't agree with the following, but here goes: Traditionally, rock groups that can jam to their music provide a means of development and extension to the mood and feeling that the songs they are playing create. This is done by examination and improvisation of the individual sections of the particular song. It sometimes brings you very far afield of the original structure, then brings you back. A perfect example of that is "No Quarter" in concert by Led Zeppelin. I'm sure you can think of others. There were sections of that piece in concert that had no representation within the album track. They make the piece function more fully as a whole, and add extension to the original mood of the album.
This music doesn't work that way.
The production and extension of the mood of this particular kind of music depends upon how tightly the original mood is maintained. Too much deviation, and the impression is lost. Therefore, a certain amount of static playing actually helps in this case.
Do you think the same way? I'd like to know.
The New Haven show was unfortunately recorded much further away from the stage. The music is clear, but the conversation requires you to listen a little harder. The RCMH show is directly from the master tape, the NH show is from a direct copy of the master. Mp3 samples are below.
These shows served as the opening act for Tangerine Dream along their 1988 tour.
The album, Mysterious Barricades, is still available, and if you like this music, I recommend that you get it.
Setlist:
Island Of Silk
Penhill March (World Gone Strange)
Naima
In Praise Of Shadows
Emperor's Last Straw
Lineage:
RCMH: Sony D3 cassette Walkman->SA90 ->Sound Forge ->FLAC
NHP: Unknown recorder ->unknown chrome cassette ->SA90 via low speed dubbing ->Sound Forge ->FLAC
Thanks to the original artwork provider. You were kind enough to take your time to do this, and poor me can't recollect who you are!
Many thanks to Sharon for the New Haven show.
**GET THIS MUSIC!!!**
Enjoy!
A DoinkerTape