JAKSZYK, FRIPP AND COLLINS: A SCARCITY OF MIRACLES

I have to admit to being quite underwhelmed by this album, in spite of the fact that five very talented musicians were on display here. When I heard that Collins, Fripp, and Jaksyk (from the Schizoid Band) were teaming up to make an album, I was really thinking it was going to be something special. Maybe a return to the older King Crimson style. In a way it is a return to that style. This whole album reminds me a great deal of the song Islands, only slowed down to about a quarter speed. Yes, this is old-style King Crimson at three beats a minute, with maybe a little smooth jazz thrown in for good measure. A cover of a Sade song would not be too out of place on this album. No Frippertronics here, merely soundscapes. Collins does add some nice sax here and there, but it isn't really enough to keep me interested. At only 43 minutes, the album actually seems to last much longer.

I have to admit to complete indifference to ambient music (what an ex-girlfriend of mine used to refer to as "music for the afterlife") and so this has certainly colored my opinion of this album. If you like ambient music, Fripps soundscapes or have had trouble sleeping lately, feel free to disregard this review. I can't really discuss the individual songs, because, in spite of having listened to it a good 10 times (I really tried to like this album), nothing sticks in my head. There are no memorable melodies (hard to have melody when the music is played that slowly) and no change in dynamics throughout the album. For me, it all blends together in one big ambient snooze fest.

I hate to rip apart such talented musicians, and really, I should say that this album is probably very good for what it is, but I don't like the direction they've taken here. If you, like me, don't really get into the ambient side of prog, you're not going to find a lot to like on this album. I've actually added a star to my rating due to some nice sax work from Collins and for the fact that I'm biased against it because I don't like the style. File in your medicine cabinet, next to your Xanax.

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