Thread

'Thread' is a collection of nine improvised pieces by Theo Travis (alto flute + soprano sax) & Robert Fripp (guitar + soundscapes). It was recorded at DGM Soundworld by David Singleton, with later editing / mixing and mastering courtesy of Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree).

The collaboration has yielded a very beautiful sequence of recordings that neatly avoid many of the clichés routinely associated with terms such as "ambient" and "improvised", while encompassing the core elements of both forms of music. In common with the best such meeting points between musicians & musical styles, the resulting hybrid defies easy categorisation or pigeon-holing content instead to occupy its own musical space.

The improvisational core of the music gives the performances space to breathe allowing for a sense of movement & change often lacking in the glut of pre-programmed ambient music in the marketplace. The strength of the duo as players & listeners never allows the improvisational base to sound "insular"; the overall vibe is expansive + inviting for the listener, the passion & commitment of the players audible from the first moments. Unfashionably, perhaps, in an era where music is often portrayed as ephemeral or disposable, 'Thread' is an album that rewards repeated listening, revealing new depths with each play.

Theo is a London based saxophonist, flautist and composer who has made a number of recordings under his own name. He tours regularly with his own jazz quartet and composes & records with his experimental ambient band, Cipher. He is also a member of both Soft Machine Legacy + Gong. Additionally, Theo has performed and / or recorded with a diverse group of musicians including: Harold Budd; John Foxx; Anja Garbarek; Hatfield & the North; Bill Nelson; Porcupine Tree; David Sylvian; and Jah Wobble.

Robert is a guitarist, composer and founding member of seminal rock band King Crimson with whom he continues to perform. He has issued a number of solo albums and collaborated & recorded with (among others) Blondie; David Bowie; Brian Eno; Peter Gabriel; Darryl Hall; The Orb; Porcupine Tree; Andy Summers; David Sylvian; and Tool. He holds Guitar Craft classes in a number of countries, is regularly cited as a key influence by a number of guitarists and his writings on the record industry - particularly on the subject of creator rights - have won widespread admiration from fellow musicians.