It can be argued that progressive and abstract music is largely a self-indulgent art but there is a tonal beauty to Adrian Belew’s Side Two, the second in a series of three albums planned. Adrian Belew has certainly had plenty of abstract training having played with the likes of Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa, and The Talking Heads’ during their most fertile periods. It has all paid off; a fact that makes itself readily apparent after listening to Side Two.
This collection of 10 songs is largely instrumental at core, that is, the music is more the centrality than the lyrics are, and threads the album with a rhythmic pulse. The songs are, at times manic, at times besieged, and at times softly engaged. The songs run a gamut of influences, which is heard throughout. I detected the hint of Eno and Byrne’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts in “I Wish I Knew,” the second song on the album. There is a whole lot of Fripp built into the recordings but Belew is so expert at channeling Fripp that its feels quite natural.
Each song on Side Two have their own signature. Belew’s guitar playing is very expressive with an identity that is familiar to fans of latter-period King Crimson yet personalized. He has an intense idea on any subject including the first song, which is an audio representation of his cover painting, “Dead Dog on Asphalt.” You can read the concept/story on the inside of the booklet.
With the second of his three albums now in stores, the planned trilogy is almost complete. With what we’ve heard thus far, both available albums as well as the upcoming Side Three will fit well into progressive libraries.
