FRIPPERTRONICS

 

As it has been spoken of the Frippertronics again, I believe that I owe a couple of explanations ago. A thing is the "rack" or the group of the pedals and effects that Fripp takes, changing and that goes evolving according to the makes the technique, and another thing is the technique in yes of the frippertronics that, anyway, neither it was new in 1972 neither it depended on the pedals. This this very well described by Fripp in their notes for disks like "Let the Power Fall" or "Under Heavy Manners". Another aspect is linking the new standard tuning with the soundscapes, something that is not like it has been explained.
To Fripp was happened that of the new standard tuning in some Turkish bathrooms in 1983, carrying out it in Guitar Craft seminars starting from 1985. Several years before the soundscapes like such they made their appearance. In fact, Fripp carries out pure frippertronics with the "new standard tuning". Both things have to do with Fripp but they are not directly related, neither one takes to the other one. This new standard tuning takes it to he practices it others artists that, also, they don't have relationship with Fripp like Fred Frith. Guitarist Henry Kaiser even accuses openly Robert Fripp of having copied him the idea to Frith, something uncertain. Almost all the musicians that play the guitar and that they have been students of Guitar Craft they play with the "new standard tuning". Adrián Belew alone has attempted it starting from the rehearsals of writing of "The ConstruKction of Light".

FRIPPERTRONICS AGAIN

In King Crimson discography that kindly has been published in the list there is a doubt on the nature of the frippertronics. The frippertronics is not a new instrument but an interpretation technique, for this way to say it. This implies to an electric guitar and two magnetophons Revox. The guitar emits a sign that is registered by one of the magnetophons. The tape leaves this and he/she goes to the second of the magnetophons where it is reproduced later some seconds. This second sign is also recorded by the first magnetophon being created a knot. The guitarist can add but you notice in successive sound layers. The first time that Fripp use this was due to Brian Eno's occurrence in 1972, and this engraving like the face A of the disk of Fripp & Eno "Not Pussy Footing". it is the topic "The Heavenly Music Corporation".

The first time that Fripp made use of this technique in study and it stops itself it was in the album of Daryll Hall "Sacred Songs". it is Also the base of the song "Exposure" of Peter Gabriel's second disk. The first frippetronics concert took place in 1978 in New York (I have a pirate of that performance), and Fripp ends up organizing a tour in loner playing them, collection in its disk "Let the Power Fall".

The first use of this technique in King Crimson is remitted to the album "Beat", indeed. In "Sartori in Tangier" is frippertronics, but they are not the instrument soloist it is -he the guitar synthesizer Roland -, since they appear in the central section of the topic, very buried in the mixture. They are listened with but clarity in the improvisation "Requiem", for my pleasure the best in the disk. The whole beginning of the topic is pure frippertronics, on those that are added in succession those other musicians.

From 1985 Fripp it no longer uses the frippertronics like such. It finishes it frippertronics performance he took place on Sunday of Easter of 1985. From the 90 the Frippertronics has been substituted by the Soundscapes in essence they are the same, alone that the sign is not processed by two analogical magnetophons but rather it suffers a much more versatile digital process. The soundscapes is much more chromatic that the frippertronics. However, the first times that these soundscapes was used they were even named as frippertronics (but they are already soundscapes, I repeat. The first disk of pure soundscapes was already the outside of I classify "1999", registered in direct in Argentina in 1994. From "VROOOM" from now on is not disk of King Crimson or of their ProjeKcts that doesn't include Soundscapes.

Carlos Romeo
Kalevala_@hotmail.com