Adrian Belew, with Side Three, completes his planned trilogy, which comes off as a complex and stylized career retrospective that doesn’t draw from previously recorded material but rather newly recorded material that draws on past works. In addition, as in the case of Side Three, there is the desire of having produced legendary works (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts) that reveals itself in the selected material.
Adrian Belew has cut his teeth with some of the finest cutting edge bands in our times that include Talking Heads and King Crimson. Fraternizing effectively with the likes of David Byrne and, by association, Brian Eno as well as King Crimson’s big daddy, Robert Fripp, has schooled Adrian Belew into the excellent musician that he has become.
Side Three begins with “Troubles,” which sounds like a take from Bryne/Eno’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. For those who would appreciate an extension of Bush of Ghosts, Side Three offers the injectable rush that such illicit sound-drugs would provide. It inserts an evangelist voice over a rhythmic bass/drum track and fills the gaps with frenetic lead guitar. The second track, “Incompetence Indifference” reaches back in to the ‘80s King Crimson style. This belongs to Belew as he was intrinsic to that period of King Crimson. I particularly like the line found in the lyric of this song that says, “if you’d like to speak to a human being, we’re sorry but that service has been discontinued…” Adrian Belew still likes to address the disconnect of the day; it’s found to the brim in this song.
The rest of Side Three follows the convention laid out earlier in this review by recording avant garde music that doesn’t follow normal formulas and patterns. The songs are standard Belew style and are for the adventurous. Progressive music fans will appreciate the music found on the album, as will Belew fans, especially of the first two of this trilogy, Side One and Side Two. I, myself, like this disc the best of the three albums presented.
As a bonus and for those with HDCD capability, Side Three is HDCD ready (to coin a term). My thanks to Sanctuary for continuing to explore the outer peripheries of music and making them available to those who appreciate and enjoy that style.
