THE CONSTRUKCTION OF LIGHT

Overall this album is marred by a particularly sterile production which lacks real punch, the main problem being the tinny and boxy electronic drums used throughout. Basically the overall sound is too weedy and not expansive enough and gives the whole album the flavour of an experiment in didactic technique. In fact this album is best seen as a study for the following much more effective 'The Power to Believe' album.

The opener 'ProzaKc Blues' just doesn't work. The production is not nearly ballsy enough for the material (which in and of itself is rather contrived anyway). It tries to be funny ? It's not funny...

The title track fares somewhat better. Both sections of this track prominently feature hocketing guitar parts, i.e. interlocking guitar lines made up of steady notes which are set up with each guitar panned extremely left or right to emphasise the effect of the technique. This technique is put to better 'musical' use on the following album 'The Power to Believe'. On 'The ConstruKction of Light' (the track) it sometimes works quite well though, especially when the guitar lines form the accompaniment to the vocal section (Part 2).

'Into The Frying Pan' is fine but nothing really special and outstays its welcome by about 3 minutes.

'FraKctured' can be somewhat tedious. It is a sort of retread of the classic 'Fracture' with elements of the track 'Discipline' mixed in ? another exercise in interlocking guitars. The guitars are recorded in a very clean and clear way and sometimes beautiful textures arise out of these crystal clean guitar lines ? which are most effective when the drums are taking a break. If you fancy marvelling at Fripp's playing technique the distorted assault in the last 3 minutes may just float your boat.

'The World's My ...' is just tedious ... and meaningless....

'Lark's Tongues 4' features clattering messy electronic drums and very 'matt-sounding' string synth (played by midi guitar). However, every so often it clicks into a zone where the music just grooves along in that complex kind of way that only Fripp/Crimson et al know how and there is some fantastic Frippery in the solo of '4b'....

The final track 'Heaven and Earth' is pleasant but nothing more than that....

In summary, this album seems to me a study in techniques that would be brought to better musical fruition on their succeeding (in both ways) album 'The Power to Believe'.