Axemen disappoint

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 10

Axemen disappoint

ANDY SUMMERS AND ROBERT FRIPP "Bewitched” (Festival L 38261). GIL SCOTTHERON “Re-Ron” (Arista 12-inch).

The pairing of Robert Fripp, the driving force behind King Crimson, and the Police guitarist, Andy Summers, is an unlikely circumstance indeed.

In spite of this, the cover shows two smiling artistes, who seem to have somehow forged a perfect union through the strength of their music.

Insipid? Absolutely. And the music is even worse, lacking any real focus or originality. Called “Bewitched,” this is a wholly instrumental ego trip for Fripp and Summers, who also produced — wonder who put up the money? The mood is clean and airy, a disinfected effort that lacks the personality found on, for instance, "Snake Charmer,” the re-

cent Jah Wobble release, which has a similar sound.

Side one is dominated by the overlong “What Kind Of Man Reads Playboy,” a standard slab of electrofunk, and side two is divided into seven brief songs, all of which never make it to second gear. Good points include the beautiful bass-playing of Sara Lee, and the clarity of Summers’ production, but, really this represents a wasted effort from two men who should know better. Meanwhile, in a rather different universe, the black rap poet, Gil Scott-Heron, has released “Re-Ron,” a 12inch single made even more urgent after the recent landslide in the American elections.

Yes, this is a "political”

song, but for once the language is as good as the sentiments expressed. “It’s a Re-Ron, a time machine, stuck in reverse and filming those scenes 20 years gone, with the point of a gun,” sings Scott-Heron with such assurance that you have to take notice.

This is a more upfront record than his previous cult classic, “B-Movie” — it stings rather than floats, and serves as a timely reminder to many current bands that what you say is only as effective as how it is said (this means you, Culture Club).

“Re-Ron” is a record to take a chance on — as Scott-Heron says: “Would we take Jesse Jackson? Hell, we’d take Michael Jackson!” —TONY GREEN.