ANDY SUMMERS — Bewitched (with Robert Fripp) (review)

ANDY SUMMERS — Bewitched (with Robert Fripp) album cover Album · 1984 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
"Bewitched" is the second and final collaboration between Fripp and Summers, and finds the duo branching out into other styles not covered on their first outing. Their first record, "I Advanced Masked", consisted of a lot of short unaccompanied guitar instrumentals that were heavily influenced by classical and folk music from Asia and Africa. The overall tone of that album was very somber and austere. "Bewitched", on the other hand, features a full backing band on many of the cuts, and is often more light-hearted than Masked. Side one of "Bewitched" opens with "Parade", which is an upbeat Police influenced 80's techno instrumental that would have been a great opening theme for an 80's sports show. This is followed by "What Kind of Man Reads Playboy", an overly long disco beat driven instrumental that features many pointless and silly solos and goes on for what seems like forever. Side one closes with "Begin the Day", which sounds like a world beat cross between Santana and The Police and features great solos from both guitarists. This song is one of the better highlights on this otherwise inconsistent album.

Side two opens with "Train". This is an excellent futuristic techno-lounge number that sounds a bit like Eno or Kraftwerk crossed with an early 60s exotic synth record. This is followed by the title track, which is a nice instrumental with a short repeating melody that recalls Eno's work on "Another Green World". The following song "Tribe", features classic King Crimson style tense chord progressions and buildups, but sounds more detailed and miniature than a Crimson song because it is played by the two guitarists, instead of a full band. The album closes with four very nice ambient instrumentals, each becoming a little more vague than the one before.

Interesting but inconsistent instrumental record from two of the finest guitarists to come from the world of rock.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sean Khan Presents The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble Nu Jazz
SEAN KHAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Yass Big Band : imMATHEMATICS Eclectic Fusion
TYMAŃSKI YASS ENSEMBLE / YASS BIG BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 13 hours ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 1 day ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 2 days ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed