Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Record Collector DECEMBER 2014 - by Ian Shirley

FRIPP & ENO: LIVE IN PARIS 28.05.1975 / TRAVIS & FRIPP: DISCRETION

No pussyfooting in Paris

Back in 1975, The Captain and Eno went on a little jaunt throughout Europe and the UK to promote their collaborative work. Those expecting to hear a mash-up of Roxy Music and King Crimson were way off the mark: the concerts showcased the duo's 1973 album (No Pussyfooting) and its follow-up, Evening Star. Audience reaction alternated between boos and bafflement, especially as the pair performed in near-darkness, illuminated only by film projected behind them.

Extant bootlegs of these shows have been very muddy but, through a near-miracle of sonic restoration, the Paris concert from May 28 has been restored to breathtaking sparkling quality. The music is timeless and still amazingly modern-sounding. Eno's backing loops and effete contributions create a platform for Fripp's extensive improvisations on classics such as Evening Star and Swastika Girls.

With the original concert spread over two CDs, the final disc collects Eno's original tape loops. The 2010 Fripp and Travis material, also recorded in Paris, is interesting but fails to reach the same heights.