Retro Reviews: Andy Summers, Robert Fripp: I Advance Masked

  I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 70s and start of the 80s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. This is a lesser-known album.

Andy Summers, Robert Fripp – I Advance Masked (1982)

***1/2

Producers: Andy Summers, Robert Fripp

Musicians: Andy Summers, Robert Fripp

Music: I Advance Masked, Under Bridges Of Silence, China – Yellow Leader, In The Cloud Forest, new Marimba, Girl On A Swing, Hardy County, The Truth Of Skies, Painting and Dance, Still Point, Lakeland / Aquarelle, Seven On Seven, Stultified

Reviewed By Matthew Anthony Allair

    The idea of Andy Summers from The Police and Robert Fripp, formerly of King Crimson doing a collaboration is an intriguing one and they manage to deliver on the promise. But this doesn’t follow any of the conventions of what you’d expect from either, the exercise is more about setting up a mood and state of mental place. It’s often pensive and dark, full of mystique with music you can almost relax with but not quite. Every time there are pleasant moments, it’s off set by something uncomfortable, it requires attention, but if may be well worth it for those ready. I don’t say these things to suggest this is any more challenging that latter period John Coltrane – it isn’t, but you may have to walk away from preconceived notions. Andy and Robert split up the work with both playing - guitars, Moog and Synths, Bass and Percussion as a self-contained unit.

    The album opens with the title track, some characteristic distortion and drones from Fripp set up the tone, before a weaving pattern by Andy steps in, he also supplies the kind of synthesizer swells you’d expect to see from The Police, some incredible lead work creeps in from Fripp, and Andy manages some characteristic lead work as well. The ambient “Under Bridges Of Silence” is awash with percussion, and Andy’s moods. The next track “China – Yellow Leader” opens with another dexterous pattern and synths and a brief synth lead from Fripp, before shifting the tone into the more ambient Asian motif before another dueling guitars the final half. The impressionistic guitar work within ”In The Cloud Forest” is probably played by Andy while Robert plays the more dexterous leads, at times Fripp almost sounds like Steve Hackett, Playing with different time signatures is an important element of “New Marimba”, impressive while also serving a mood. The piano driven “Girl On A Swing” has the interplay of guitar to accompany and a synth lead that is all impressionistic 

    The second half opens with “Hardy County” with a guitar, synth bass driven number that offers some angular phrases and electric sitar, and dynamic percussion. “The Truth Of Skies” pretty much feels like an Andy where the structure hints at Mahavishnu Orchestra. “Painting and Dance” feels like another jazz duet between the both of them, a little more stripped down of a number. “Still Point” manages some more modulating shifts with some great Fripp work. The brief “Lakeland / Aquarelle” manages a Japanese setting that harkens back to the Bowie / Eno collaborations of the late 70s. The brief “Seven On Seven” takes a pensive, darker turn. The closer “Stultified” is a cascading blend of guitar and Keyboard that ends on a apocalyptic turn. 

    This isn’t what one might expect, it isn’t a pop record, but it isn’t a fusion rock record either, the emphasis is on ambient moods juxtaposed with some impressive playing from the both of them. The truth is that Andy may have options away from the police if that ever ends. For Robert Fripp, this simply expands the palate of his - already - impressive work. He has always pushed back on the definition of rock and pop music anyway. This is a worthwhile pairing.