DAMAGE - LIVE (WITH ROBERT FRIPP)

DAVID SYLVIAN Damage - Live (with Robert Fripp)

The heading is a misnomer. This is not simply a David Sylvian album, NO, it's much much more. You get enough Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto to give the impression that something more is going on. I love Sylvian's solo albums, but this collaboration is distinctive and powerful, eschewing his mainly ambient melancholy for cKrimsonian might and crashing bravado. Oh, how I wish this had been a King Crimson reformation. Three or four studio discs, a live disc and then quit. OUT with Adrian Belew's poppy and oh- so-American vocals and IN with the master of suave, sexual and languid whispers of David Sylvian. Additionally, Michael Brook's infinite guitar is the perfect understatement to Fripp buzz saw sustain. Musically delicious.

Most of the disc offers The First Day in a live format, but the tunes are more enticing and raw played before an audience. The mood seems electric, pulsing with Mastelotto's kick drum. Trey Gunn's touch guitar keeps the whole endeavour grounded, but he occassionaly reaches skyward and offers snippets of melody and fills the spaces with a deft flurry of notes. The band covers a few of Sylvian's solo material, but remember, Fripp has guested on quite a few. His presence is more central to the music on this recording.

This is, basically, a must have for any Crimson/Sylvian afficionado. Modern music played extremely well and hitting on all cylinders. It don't get any better than this.

Wouldn't it figure that a CD ordered by mail called Damage would arrive with a crack in it's case?

Anyway, the band for this concert is basically modern King Crimson (Fripp, Gunn, and Mastoletto) without Belew. With Michael Brook (worked with Jon Hassel and Brian Eno) thrown in for good measure playing "Infinite guitar". If you don't like Belew's style of vocals (I do, waatari ney, dude), David's vocal style might be just the thing you're looking for.

My first encounter with Sylvian was The First Day (also with Fripp, Gunn, and Marotta). This came out the same year and shares five of tunes on that studio album. The live versions are most certainly a little livelier than the studio ones.

I have to say the other David Sylvian albums I've tried just aren't quite as enjoyable, but they'll stay in my collection. This one's the best I've tried.

Very interesting album. Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto ( let say KC trio) collaborated with David Sylvian and Michael Brook!

In fact, it is alternative King Crimson version with Sylvian on vocal and rich in dark ambient synthesizer sound. This live album mainly contains songs from previous studio album "The First Days", in which Fripp and Gunn participated as well.

But this live version is more energetic, with longer solos, much more interesting album.

Again, if Fripp and Gunn guitars sound in moments remind you KC music, deep electronic sounds from Sylvian synthesizers, slow rhythm , soft drums and total "teasing" sound is really different from any KC version.

Music is not only interesting, but and really good. Some songs are more "Sylvianish", with slow tempo and some Bowie intonations. Another are more Crimsonian, driven by Fripp guitar with Gunn-Mastelotto characteristic rhythm section.

Strongly recommended to all KC fans ,Fripp fans, Trey Gunn fans and everyone,who is interested in most original of progressive rock from 90-s.

I guess you could call this a stepping stone to KING CRIMSON's comeback album ("Thrak") released 2 years after this.The trio of Fripp, Mastelotto and Gunn who play on this live album would be the core of that "Thrak" record, but instead of Sylvian on vocals we would get Belew. While I think this ("Damage") a really good album I do find it frustrating because there are some killer tracks on here but also songs I just don't like, making this a mixed bag for me.This was recorded live in London, England in December of 1993.

"God's Monkey" is a song I didn't like from the studio album ("The First Day") and it's not much better here except for the atmosphere and guitar after 5 minutes. "Brightness Falls" is also one I dislike until it settles after 4 minutes with atmosphere. "Every Color You Are" is a great sounding tune. It's dark as a beat with reserved vocals comes in. "Jean The Birdman" is catchy with some energy. It's okay. "Firepower" sounds best when the vocals stop around 3 minutes. Love the atmosphere and guitar.

"Damage" opens with atmosphere and laid back keys as fragile vocals join in. It reminds me of NO-MAN. "Gone To Earth" kicks in with vocals right away. "20th Century Dreaming (A Shaman's Song)" sounds really good when the vocals stop before 3 minutes, but even when they return I really like the rest of the song. "Wave" has a relaxing beat as guitar then vocals join in. A good tune. "Riverman" is another highlight for me. It's laid back with vocals. "Blinding Light Of Heaven" is catchy and it kicks in pretty good. "The First Day" is a cool song with atmosphere and reserved vocals.

This is an album that KING CRIMSON fans should really check out. Most like this one a lot. I wish I was as enthusiastic.

You would think that by paring down the songs, playing them with a live ferocity, and trading Rick Marotta (the Ringo Starr of the prog world) with Pat Mastelotto, and adding Michael Brook, you would greatly improve the quality over the studio version. Well, yes and no.

The songs did sound better live. Robert. Fripp really did seem to be enjoying this group (that's possibly why Fripp, Trey Gunn and Mastelotto joined Adrian Belew to form the next King Crimson a few years later). And without the too long endings, the songs are more enjoyable.

The reason I give this album the same rating as the studio album is first, Mastelotto appears to be hanging back throughout the album. We know he could play more adventurous beats. Perhaps he didn't want to show up Marotta. Second, the mix is disappointing. Trey Gunn in particular gets buried most of the time. As a bass player, and a fan of Gunn, it brings the album down.

But still, Fripp plays some wild Frippery here, and even the hip-hop styled Darshan is made listenable.

The label Eclectic-Prog suits perfectly. Now that I am getting aquainted with the tag; and the recent music bands which turn out to be under this genre. By chance. Anyway this introduction serves the purpose to distance this David Sylvian effort as merely "crossover" in its strict sense. Even better/worse; the other guy (Robert Fripp) simply cannot be tagged down. Considering his vast amount of collaborations with any kind of bands; known and not; prog and not. At least 100 other than Crimson & solo projects. I follow the guy closely; I have to admit! This is one of the best live collaborations (dates) among these guys. Accompanied by close to both musicians (Trey Gunn, Pat Matellotto). Most!.. underline most;.. not all of course; front-men/women vocalist in this style of music (with all its sub-cats) and in general; suffer of what I call "The "Dylan- Syndrome" they get this weird idea that just because they sing in a band whatever f...k they sing is relevant to audiences and the rest of the world. Well Dylan did; and had an ugly voice...so by divine intervention "my thoughts are poetry because I AM the singer!!!of a Prog/Rock/?/band.!!!"...Not David Sylvian (founder of the 80´s proto-prog band "Japan" and apparently "early unclaimed Eclectic-Prog pioneer").. Styles come and go but; when you have nurtered, your naturally born wisdom with words; beyond music academies, more with real life "academies"; raw, dirty, real life! (like Dylan did, actually), you discover and construct your own-language, your mean of expression, and poetry, like Mr. Sylvian does, pure and deep poetry. There are things that simply cannot be taught at school; any school.... A great combination between already written songs ("The First Day" with Fripp) some personal prior "solo" work songs, some from earlier collaborations also with Fripp "Gone to Earth"; and the unmistakable- "Frippertronics" here and there. ..But above all; and best if you like surprises; when required Fripp shows a Hard/Rock guitar approach (like in the studio effort.) he normally does not show (opposite to the Crimson Metal one and his "normal" one). What makes also; this work very relevant; is the perfectly woven "live" performance of great and real intelligent songs. So Eclectic-Prog followers you should ALSO, appreciate this work, I guess. I did entirely! Just because, the whole thing is a perfect combination of songs played amazingly up-front "live"in a ****4.5 "my kind" of live album-Stars............. Every Colour You Are!