Robert Fripp, Brian Eno

Although they have sewn their names into the thread of rock history with their work with King Crimson, Roxy Music and production work ranging from Keith Tippett to U2, the three albums these boys have recorded together are equally important. It’s ironic that No Pussyfooting was withheld by Eno’s record company for two years, as they feared it would destroy his career. Its blend and textures of Eno’s electronics and Fripp’s treated guitars was as important to left-field music as Eno’s solo ambient records. The follow-up, North Star, is just one of the best albums ever. As for this latest offering, it collects together all manner of loose cuttings recorded by the duo, reaching as far back as 1992, and their more recent collaborative efforts that saw the release of Equatorial Stars. Musically, the adventure is made sweeter by the fact that one CD is an extended mix of the tracks that really works well. Although the few pieces propelled by club beats sound average (set against real instrumental club records that explore similar terrain), the restraint of the sonic washes and pliant guitar on tracks such as Hopeful Timean and Timean Sparkle is peach-sweet to the ear