Long before Covid appeared on the scene in late 2019, Andy Summers (The Police) and Robert Fripp (King Crimson) stashed away a stock of masks – sonic masks that hid what they were up to in their more famous bands. You might say, they were ahead of their time. They certainly pushed the boundaries of guitar music forward on their 1982 album, I Advance Masked.

According to Summers, all the tracks on this collection started as guitar duets. Synthesiser, percussion and bass parts were added later. There are no drums, but you don’t miss them.

“[The album was] a synthesis of two guys who grew up playing guitar, heard the Beatles, listened to jazz, have been influenced by Oriental music and Steve Reich, but still happen to be playing in a rock context. … Some of it is very accessible and some is very avant-garde”

Andy Summers on Wikipedia.

If I were to characterise it, I’d say it’s an ambient take on 80s-era King Crimson material – and quite different from either of the bands the players are known for. If I may borrow a line from Shakespeare, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven on the Crotchety ear.

Those incognito masks are not needed any more. You can stream the album on all the usual sites. And, if you are an avid collector of vinyl records, you can look forward to a 2024 remix with two previously unreleased tracks that will be available from Burning Shed from 11th April.