Re: Beyond Fripp

[matthias@bahianet.com.br (Matthias Grob)]

Hi Dave!
I knew you were going to say some nice things like those:

>Something about this particular thread makes me a little
>uncomfortable.  It's not intended to "dis" Fripp, but that's sort of
>how it comes off.  It seems like people are faulting Fripp for not
>going far enough, not being sufficiently dynamic, not being
>experimental enough.

When I said "Its time to go way beyond Fripp in terms of looping!" on Dec,
7, I was suggesting that *we* could move ahead into other directions.
Fripp did his pioneer work and knows what he has to do.

Later I had to admit: Beyond maybe is rather understood as
"further in the same direction", while I meant musical broadening.

Listening to your tape (right now), there are parts that clearly remind of
Fripp and others that are different and maybe go "beyond Fripp" to use this
expression for the very last time...

>I don't believe an artist must continually break new ground for ever
>and ever.  Fripp has found a formula for looping that works for him,
>and he practices his art within a set of self-imposed limitations.  To
>my ears, Fripp's looping has always been oriented toward developing
>textures by layering simple, consistent tones, a sort of minimalist
>expressionism where tonal color is all-important.  Dynamics, movement,
>and tonal variety distract the listener from the details of texture.

Very nicely put.
The limitation in this case originally was a technical one, I think. Then
it turned into a style and I hope all styles live on - but I like the
search for new ones.
We could impose different self-limitations, like the ones that actual
technology imposes, or like my rejection to study and remember themes.

...
>Please, don't compare musicians like this.  It's not a competition.
>Respect Robert Fripp for his incomparable achievements, but don't
>fault him for not going where you want him to go.

Right. I learned it scool, that Beethoven went beyond Mozart but which was
the bigger genious has not been said, nor meant. Its just that analyzing
trip...

I do not like competition at all and absolutely reject to play where "the
best" wins something, but saying that there is not competition is maybe
more wish than reality...


You brought it to the point, my friend. I hope we can abandon it and trust
each others positive intentions again  :-)
Matthias