Starting the Road To Graceland Tour with a gig in Japan on 14th October 1993, David Sylvian and Robert Fripp did their best to add even more energy to their already powerful "The First Day" album. The material was rendered live remarkably well and was instantly embraced by the audience. This was largely due to Fripp's mind-blowing virtuoso performance plus drum and bass powerhouse duo - Pat Mastelloto and Trey Gunn. It has to be stressed, though, that the performance by no means lacked moments of serenity and that was obviously provided by extracts from Sylvian's back catalogue such as "Riverman" or "Every Colour You Are" - their delicate nature well presented and enhanced by Fripp's unmistakable soundscapes. Subdued lighting accompanied the performance elegantly which, for obvious reasons, the live album "Damage" released soon afterwards could not reflect. What it did communicate, however, was the multitude of emotions and hues that were born onstage as a result of the two musical individualities clashing and complementing one another. It will suffice to just listen to the brilliant, heart-rending performance of Sylvian's "Wave" to sample the unique atmosphere of the tour. Fire and water are contained within a delicate frame constructed by the two ethereal ballads - "The First Day" and "Damage" that could not have been written by anybody else other than Sylvian. The title track of almost physical devastating beauty is in itself good enough a reason to place that live album on your shelf. P.S. The concert at Tokyo's Sun Plaza on 26th October 1993 was filmed in its entirety and released exclusively in Japan as a laserdisc which instantly became a much sought-after item. [  back to the top