Live performances of King Crimson music by 3rd parties as mp3 (MPEG Audio) files

performed by Fractal Continuum

Quality	Type	Size	Action
Hi Fi	mp3	13.2 MB	DOWNLOAD
Lo Fi	mp3	1.2 MB	DOWNLOAD

The Fractal Continuum are a three piece instrumental rock band from the Bay area of San Francisico with a strong influence from the most recent incarnation of King Crimson

Nic Roozeboom - Guitar
Jim Mallonee - Bass
Paul Strong - V-Drums
Adrian Cockcroft - Sound Engineer

Exclusive! FraKctured Zone interview with Nic Roozeboom of The Fractal Continuum. Click here...

Nic

Dauntingly difficult, and hauntingly beautiful in its majestic austerity. That is, if King Crimson plays it. We play it our own way. No less of an achievement, mind you - just different. For starters, we are short one guitarist relative to the rightful owners, compelling some creativity of arrangement in several sections. Another difference lies in the possibility that talent might also be unfairly distributed in the world. We might not be as gracious or elegant at taming this lion, but I think it's subjecting itself to us nonetheless. FraKctured has helped us all develop as individual musicians and as a band, and probably also as people ("impossible" just seems a whole lot farther removed from us now). By the way, do check out the FraKctured Zone for a more comprehensive world of commentary about this wonderful beast.

Jim

This was mentioned as a possibility before we all first met. I had no illusions about my ability to play it - it wasn't going to happen. Then I heard Nic play it, and knew that I had to try, He deserved the chance to perform it, after so much obvious effort. It is in this way that we progress beyond our perceived limitations.

Paul

When someone suggested we might play this, I thought "Fine I'll give it a go!".

I'd never heard it before. Somehow until Fractal, I had missed out on all post-1974 Crimson.

Then Nic played it and I thought "Forget It!!!!".

Now I go "Yeah, lets play it again."

This piece is mind bendingly intimidating. Nic obviously has the hardest part, having to simultaneously emulate the combined effect of not one but two of the best guitarists around, in my humble opinion. Since he seemed pretty capable, at least to my ears, of doing this acceptably, I thought we just had to do it. The best decision I think we have made.

The piece is a constant focus for cencentration and pushing the envelope of our collective technique and ability. Once we decomposed it into it's constituents, we stood a chance. The drums are weird and my own personal style is somewhere between Pat's and what I imagine would be the Bruford's I guess (though nowhere near them in ability or technique of course). Pat was kind enough to provide me with some hints via e-mail correspondence and I must thank him for taking the time to answer my queries during his hectic musical schedule.

So now we play this every week. How does it feel?

Well I love it to death. Listening to KC's version is always a great pleasure, and for me the experience of playing it has changed the piece. As a listener I was intimidated and awe struck. My perception of the piece was forever changed as a consequence of trying to understand and hence play it. As a player I just love it. The piece for me has a series of moods and threads which naturally suck me in. The hardest part of it all is maintaining concentration whilst allowing myself to "fall" into the music.

It's doesn't feel like a cover for me. It is so much more. Thankyou Robert, Adrian et al for providing the world with such a wonderful piece of music.