The Grid / Fripp* – Leviathan

After listening to this a a few months I can say that disc 1 is where the money is. The Grid should have stuck to ambient elements to add the the Frippertronics, like in Pulse Detected. The beats aren't horrible, but they sure are dated. If you want this approach from a similar era try the Fripp / Orb collab - FFWD. This album is a 3.5.

The mix, mastering and pressing allows the soundscape to breathe. On side B my copy came with some strange spot of light orange color that seems to have been rubbed into the vinyl. But it plays fine. If it’s not one thing it’s another…

I am a huge fan of The Grid. I don't know Fripp. I bought the CD/DVD-A. It is terrible.

It starts out with the stellar and patented Frippertronic soundscape on side A, which is really excellent.
As we get to the main title track, the bass offsets the mood a bit, but by the end of the track the mood is restored.
On side C and D, however, a beginner's drum programming takes the front seat, and, frankly, I can't even listen to this dated sound. The added keyboards doesn't really help either. You can still hear that Fripp is there in the background somehow, but, really?
The only track on the second disc that I ever will play again is D2, Sympatico, which is OK, but doesn't really fit in with the first disc.

I bought this purely on recommendation from John Darko. Fantastic pressing, dead silent background, I don't think I heard one pop or click throughout, absolutely perfect. Incredible depth and soundstage to the music. Content wise, it's vast, these are huge pieces, puts me in mind of the kind of Bladerunner 2049 soundscapes. Very trippy throughout, it's quite a nostalgic although certainly not dated approach to ambient.

I'm not sure I would even call it ambient though, more experimental electronic.

This is a great release. While the hipsters are bumping into themselves buying up all the ASIP and PITP releases, this is going to fly under the radar. Best ambient album I've heard all year by miles.