The Repercussions Of Angelic Behavior
"Repercussions was recorded at Bill Rieflin's "Birth of a Giant" recording sessions.
Bill had invited Robert Fripp and myself in for three days of recording on his solo record. The recordings went so well and so fast that we ended up with extra time in the session. Bill thought we should use the time for the three of us to improvise together.
What was unique about this particular recording process was that Bill had us recorded to 24-track analog tape, old school style. He'd previously recorded a drum loop on track one of the 24-track tape. Bill only used three mics on his drum kit, while Robert and I were both in stereo. So, it took only seven tracks to record the three of us playing live together. This meant we were able to record three entirely different performances on each reel of tape. Performance one on tracks 1 through 8, performance two on tracks 9 through 16, and the third performance went on the tracks 17 through 24.
The session then looked like this. We would listen to the drum loop on track one and we would record the first performance -- which was completely improvised. Then we would do another performance on the second group of tracks, but listening only to the original drum loop, not to the performance we had just done. Then we would repeat this again for the third group of tracks. We did this over the course of three of four reels of analogue tape. This gave us over two hours of material to work with. When it came time to mix, we had three different improvised performances completely in sync with the drum loop track on each reel of tape. This meant that when it came time for Bill and I to mix, we had the option to mix and match our performances. For example, his drum part from the first improvisation, Robert's soundscape from the second improvisation, and my bass part from the third improvisation.
I can't remember exactly how we finally mixed things together. But generally we would pick a single performance of Bill's and mine and then we could mix and match Robert's performances. Some of the pieces were not mixed up at all. The "Blast" pieces were just the straight-up performances with no editing. Now that I've digitized all these recordings, I plan to do some remixes and make completely different records from the performances. At some point I will do Atmos surround mixes.
That was the recording, now on to the playing. In my view, this record was the beginning of the King Crimson ProjeKCts. Robert and I attacked this with a particular kind of playing that led into the language and the attitude of ProjeKCts. What I heard at the time, and what I still hear now, is the incredible trajectory of each player. A trajectory that is aware of the other players, though often heading along very different pathways. In a way, this became a theme of the ProjeKCts -- that you could follow your own melody along wherever it was going and know that it was going to work with the other players. Even if we were moving to contrary places. You can feel this approach emerging in these Repercussions recordings.
The title of this recording comes from the artwork that Bill's wife, Frankie, had painted. When it was suggested for the cover art and Robert heard the name of the painting, he knew that it had to be the title as well. And so, Repercussions was born." - Trey Gunn
Highly imaginative instrumental & improvisational album featuring King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, Chapman stick player/Crimson member Trey Gunn & multi-instrumentalist Bill Rieflin, who prior to this played drums for Ministry and The Blackouts, then later went on to tour and record with R.E.M. and in 2013 joined King Crimson.
From the "All Music Guide" by Jim Brenholts:
The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior is a rock CD with atmospheric timbres. It is by Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, and Bill Rieflin. The liner notes are sparse. In fact, they're nonexistent, so listeners have to tackle this disc with no "graphic interference." Fans of Fripp looking for a sound similar to his work with King Crimson will not be disappointed. The disc is loaded with hot guitar riffs and freaky dissonance. It is not pleasant and it is not unpleasant -- it is Fripp and it meets expectations. It is a new kind of avant-garde.
From "All About Jazz" by Glen Astarita:
"This 1999 release precedes the excellent new recording from perennial prog-rockers King Crimson, titled The ConstruKction of Light. Yet with The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior, electric guitarist and Crimson founder Robert Fripp, touch bassist Trey Gunn and hard hitting drummer Bill Rieflin mesh gears for some truly energetic interplay! Spearheaded by Fripp’s signature style attack consisting of loops, EFX, and sinuous lead soloing along with a keen (if not legendary) sense of the dynamic, the trio pursues booming, driving rhythms and abstract themes amid fiery improvisation and otherworldly effects. Throughout, touch bassist Trey Gunn displays the synergy and intuitiveness exhibited on recent collaborations with Fripp in King Crimson and elsewhere. - However, there are no track listings or credits while it is stated on the CD that – “random play is required for full effect”! And while Fripp and Gunn are well known for their improvising ways which has been documented on a rash of recent King Crimson offshoot recordings known as “Project X” or “Project I, 2 and so on, this release falls within a similar format. Hence, The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior is an engaging and electrifying presentation."
Bill Rieflin - drums, loops
Robert Fripp - guitar, soundscapes
Trey Gunn - touch guitar
recorded by Scott Crane at The Soundhouse, Seattle
assisted by John Sinks
mixed by Gunn and Rieflin at Subliminal Studios
edited by Tim Skold
additional editing on 'Lost and Found Highway' by Steven Rhodes
mastered by the great Arnie Acosta at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles
- - -
cover drawing by CW House
cover card layout by Bill Van Buren
back typography by Francesca Sundsten
The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior:
is a live recording
is a studio record
is improvised
is composed
is a companion disc to Rieflin's 'Birth of a Giant'
is a companion disc to King Crimson's ProjeKct series
is an exciting and indispensable adventure into the musical unknown
is the medium for the release of the cover art
is considered in exactly the same way by Rieflin, Fripp, and Gunn alike
is a source of differing opinions between Rieflin, Fripp, and Gunn
all of the above
some of the above
none of the above
Everything on this record is intentional.
Except where not.
