Frippertronics-era Robert Fripp: Let's Discuss

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I know I always sound cranky on these Fripp threads (especially in light of how I always post on them. And I'm 100% with the main points of dleone's review in the 2nd paragraph.

I just flinch like a loon when I hear discussion of Fripp & Eno's physical innovations, when they were actually nil (though what they accomplished with the delay set up was inspirational, there were many equally amazing records already in wide release) -- dubbing his setup 'Frippertronics' was a brilliant bit of PR that's obscured the discussion on the genre of loop based music. Which is an issue precisely because it's such a big field, a huge outgrowth of electronic, feedback-driven music making in general -- it's all loops. Ways for single performers to make huge amounts of noise.

― (Jon L), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 21:21 (8 years ago) Permalink

No one's really arguing that Fripp and Eno invented the idea of additive delay. But I'd still argue that "Frippertronics," as defined above, was considerably more than the 'delay and decay' setup you describe. Yes, a whole host of people have used that basic idea for their own music, but honestly, no one's ever sounded like Fripp's (take Let the Power Fall, for instance) -- largely, I think, because a critical part of his particular setup (which seems to be less important on those 'Soundscapes' records) was in how he controlled his guitar sound with the volume, wah, and fuzz pedals. I mean, a lot of it doesn't really even sound like guitar at all. Also, there was the way he adapted it (however clumsily) to pop. All in all, pretty unique, I think.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 00:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

>No one's really arguing that Fripp and Eno invented the idea of additive delay.

past arguments with Fripp fanatics are haunting me, but everyone besides me is being quite reasonable here, so apologies. Let The Power Fall is an outstanding record. The bootlegs are great too, Scary Monsters caliber solos atop the walls...

― (Jon L), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 04:42 (8 years ago) Permalink

I just downloaded the Kitchen tapes from '78(?) and the SF recordings a year later. Haven't gotten a chance to hear them yet, though.

Also, on the inner sleeve of my God Save the Queen copy on vinyl, he says outright something to the effect of "In fairness, others have used this delay system before me." I'll get the real quote later...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:16 (8 years ago) Permalink

As I'd mentioned earlier, from Eric Tamm's book on Fripp:

"The end of the Drive to 1981 was timed to coincide with an event of astrological significance, an alignment of the planets to take place on September 11, 1981, at which time, Fripp evidently believed, mankind was in for an awakening of apocalyptic import."

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 18:01 (8 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

I would like to reiterate how weird the above happenstance is. Has he said anything about it since 9/11?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Sunday, 17 April 2005 15:33 (8 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Robert Fripp has a new Soundscape CD out, and it is entitled Love Cannot Bear.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:18 (7 years ago) Permalink

Fripp knew

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

I mentioned it on one of the King Crimson threads, but DGM Live has gone live after at least a year of hinting by Fripp that it was coming. They're offering whole shows for download (128k MP3 and FLAC) — among the first batch to go up is the Nov 2000 World Financial Center soundscapes. Frippertronics is big on everyone's wishlist at the site's guestbook.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:10 (7 years ago) Permalink

Frippertronics is big on everyone's wishlist at the site's guestbook.

How do you mean?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

Like, people want him to post the Kitchen Tapes?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:16 (7 years ago) Permalink

Like, several people (not "everybody," I was being hyperbolic) have requested Frippertronics, and Sid Smith (who wrote the KC bio a few years ago and is now on the DGM payroll) has noted the requests:

Clearly there's been a demand for Frippertronics and it's our intention to make some of these available as the site grows and develops. More Soundscapes will be uploaded onto the site in the near future and the KC 2003 shows are also currently under consideration.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:23 (7 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Jan. 11 RF diary entry:

Just spoken to Steve Martin of The Agency in NYC. Soundscape performances are about to be confirmed for the end of February in Athens, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis & a few others.

― truck-patch pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 14 January 2006 02:52 (7 years ago) Permalink

zeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwp
zeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwp
zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwp

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Saturday, 14 January 2006 02:58 (7 years ago) Permalink

6 years pass...

rad little bit of frippertronics: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matte-kudasai-solo/id129950531?i=109855476
the Matte Kudasai Solo isolated.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:09 (1 year ago) Permalink

Found an original copy of the Pleasures In Pieces bootleg a while back, which Tamm raves about in his book. Rightly so, it's a gem.

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:27 (1 year ago) Permalink

that's this thing right? http://www.dgmlive.com/archive.htm?&show=1172
i need to keep up with the DGM Live thing, had no idea they had put out that 1975 eno/fripp show officially.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

I thought Pleasure In Pieces was at the Kitchen in SoHo.

― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

oh maybe? i haven't heard it.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

Neither have I. Would love to tho. Seems kind of odd DGM hasn't released it.

― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah it's the Kitchen, Feb 1978

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Thursday, 26 January 2012 10:04 (1 year ago) Permalink

And DGM hasn't released it, right?

― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 January 2012 12:42 (1 year ago) Permalink

correct

also you said you downloaded it upthread :)

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Thursday, 26 January 2012 13:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

So I did! I think I may have lost it in The Great Crash of 2011.

― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 January 2012 15:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

i need this bootleg and yet i cannot find it. these are dark days.

― tylerw, Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

think "no pussyfooting" played at 33 is the greatest album of all time

so ... what up w/ the album art?

― the late great, Saturday, 28 April 2012 21:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

happy 66th bday robert fripp!

― free your spirit pig (La Lechera), Thursday, 16 May 2013 19:22 (4 days ago) Permalink

woo. coincidentally was just listening to this for the first time: http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f90/robert-fripp-1979-08-11-toronto-canada-aud-mp3320-a-121738.html

― tylerw, Thursday, 16 May 2013 19:23 (4 days ago) Permalink

His and Toyah's appearance on All Star Mr. and Mrs. from a week or two ago:

― What makes a man shart fire? (WilliamC), Friday, 17 May 2013 13:43 (3 days ago) Permalink

did a whole sacred songs/peter gabriel 2/exposure listening marathon last week and it ruled

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 17 May 2013 15:13 (3 days ago) Permalink

His and Toyah's appearance on All Star Mr. and Mrs. from a week or two ago:


That was outstanding. They are, like, the sweet old couple that never fell out of love (largely because she still wears the leather outfits).

― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 17 May 2013 15:40 (3 days ago) Permalink

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