Kept for a long time under wraps, although DME knew what was going on, on May 4th “Starless Starlight,” a new album by two KING CRIMSON men, David Cross and Robert Fripp, who last played together in 1974, will see the light of day. That year was the starting point of this project, but there’s much more to it, as producer Tony Lowe – a part of cult group BRAM STOKER, one that got resurrected to deliver a new record, “"Cold Reading", recently – explains. Deeper still, Tony uncovers an unknown page in the history of the legendary prog ensemble.
Speaks Tony Lowe:
“The story of ‘Starless Starlight’ is that of a short melody composed by David Cross and Robert Fripp that emerged as one of the key themes of the KING CRIMSON song ‘Starless’ from 1974. The tune resurfaced in two improvisations performed and recorded by Fripp at Blueberry Hill, St. Louis in 2006. These recordings and the theme itself were then transformed by David Cross, and myself, into the album ‘Starless Starlight.’
Photo © Cheryl Stringall
I first met David Cross back in 1971. At the age of 17, I had auditioned for KING CRIMSON after Greg Lake had left in 1970. I couldn’t sing very well then but they agreed to hear me as a bass player. I was pretty good but totally inexperienced apart from some local bands as a guitarist and had only started playing bass a month before the audition. I didn’t get the job, obviously, but was called back for a second try.
Looking back I realize that I was much too young and inexperienced for the band… Two months later I auditioned as bass player for the band BRAM STOKER, a kind of gothic rock band with heavy classical influences. They were doing really well in the clubs and colleges at that time. It wasn’t to last though as the band split in late 1971, and that was that. I was asked to meet a young violinist who was working with a very talented guitarist and looking for a bass player. We met and I loved what they were doing. So original and groundbreaking so, again on bass. I joined the band WAVES. We went into writing and rehearsal mode for about eight months in a basement on the Fulham Palace Road. The same place I’d auditioned for KING CRIMSON.
During this time our manager had approached various record companies, so when we heard that EG management were coming down to hear us, we thought we’d made it! They came down with Robert Fripp and little did we know that he was scouting for a new CRIMSON line-up.
The rest is history. David was asked to join KING CRIMSON. And some forty years later I got involved in the ‘Starless Starlight’ project.”
Starless Starlight
Read the review here; as for the album’s content, it looks like this:
1. Starless Starlight Loops
2. In The Shadow
3. Shine And Fall
4. Starless Theme
5. One By One, The Stars Were Going Out
6. Fear Of Starlight
7. Starlight Trio
8. Sure Of The Dark
