Just Robert Fripp and his guitar synthesizer. Apparently, this was recorded live but sounds like a studio production. An orchestra of divine sound and totally unique. It's amazing how varied he can make the songs and musically weave a path with loops. I find the lead track emotionally moving that evokes visions of heaven. Very relaxing and contemplative. Those into ambient music may very well like this.

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Brandon S.

Beauty

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2002

I don't care much for the majority of the previous reviews of this disc, and I don't think you should, either. This is an amazingly gorgeous music, so moving, so absolutely enchanting. This has to be Robert Fripp's most personal recording, dedicated to the memory of his mother. I doubt that when my mother is no longer among us, I could ever hope to do anything so loving and so beautiful.
The only real flaw with this music is that it all has a same-ness to it: it's almost as though each piece were a rendition of a particular theme, which may very well be the case. Most of it sounds improvised, although "Midnight Blue" seems to be composed, almost as though it were thought out completely before hand.....it is definetly the stand-out piece, and is what I imagine heaven would be like, if it were sound instead of a vision or a state of mind, etc. etc. Don't get me wrong, all of the music is great, very relaxing.....almost TOO relaxing....you might find yourself either drifting off, or falling asleep entirely! This isn't a bad thing, though, as the music gently caresses the senses, gives you a feeling of utter peace and.....oh, words are useless when it comes to describing music. Just listen.....if you've read this far already, you must be interested! It's the most 'accessible' soundscape recording, and I highly recommend it.

8 people found this helpful

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Kalki88

A replacement for a worn cd

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019

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One of his better ones

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sleight

Atypical and deeply moving music from the "Old Goat"

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2019

Always been a fan of the "Old Goat" Robert Fripp and his collaborations with KC, Eno, et.al. The only reservation I've harbored is that the music always seemed a bit cerebral, even stiff at times. Not so with "A Blessing of Tears". There is real depth and uncharacteristic emotion in this music. Atypical and deeply moving.

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Lord Chimp

so beautiful it might kill you, and here is a bad review.

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2008

The "Soundscapes" are more technologically sophisticated frippertronics and while the concept itself is not original, the effectiveness of tools is nonexistent without a good ear for sound. With _A Blessing of Tears_, Fripp has crafted an album of such beauty that you will wonder how it can even be real! All the pieces are taken from improvised, live solo performances. It is hard to describe what it sounds like, it is sort of like a rapturous form of guitar soloing... Fripp pensively constructs various levels of looped guitar synths through digital electronics (as opposed to the old frippertronics use of analog tapes), bearing no resemblance to usual guitar music, just a constantly shifting, alien voices that make your billions of individual cells quiver with ineffable emotions. It is not like ambient new-age music for SISSIES that goes over you like moving water -- this gives most benefit to the active listener, rather than some passive-aggressive dingus trying to chill out. The way Fripp makes the different voices sort of "speak" to each other is very beautiful, and more engaging, like the solos from Crimson's "Walking on Air" but more complex. There is an emphasis on lots of minor and augmented harmonies, or harmony is strangely suspended altogether. It is not like an ambient, textural wall of sound, it is about dialogue between different voices, a ravishing polyphony in the language of angels. There is no real structure so one is just lucky that this music was recorded and one can listen. That is part of why this music is a peaceful, mystical experience. _A Blessing of Tears_ is a meditation on sadness, dedicated as it is to the memory of Fripp's mother, but I find this album does not make me feel sad. As with the world, we see suffering and evil and we are distressed by how the world is apparently such a malevolent place. But past this veil of sadness, is a sense of reconciliation and recognition that all the instruments in the symphony of the Absolute meld into a perfectly coherent, beautiful whole. We think of pain and death, but we must also think of beauty, friendship, peace and love. This is an excellent album!

4 people found this helpful

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loteq

Constant craving

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2000

Although this is a very serious and measured album, I couldn't stop laughing when I read all the previous reviews. "A blessing.." clearly is the most beautiful and emotionally moving effort of Fripp's legendary "Soundscapes" series. Marked with the same stylistic integrity as previous releases, the music is characterized by violin-like, long-stretched soundwaves, originally created by guitar and then randomly sampled together. The most fascinating aspect about this guitar reinvention is the constantly shifting and turning nature of the music, so there's hardly any repetition. On the other hand, this album doesn't do much to develop the sound found on Fripp's last few albums, it it's not as enterprising as "The gates of paradise" or "Evening star". And over the course of a whole disc, the bright, humming noises are rather nerve-racking than relaxing. Since this is a concept album, it's pointless to pick winners, but the intro of "Returning II" is outstanding. It's like walking in the first morning light after an awfully cold winter night. Recommended anyway.

16 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2016

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The finest soundscape I have ever heard. You want this record too!

angelo cianciaruso

Robert fripp

Reviewed in Italy on September 20, 2015

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Fonalmente arrivato faceva parte della sua play list di ispirazione ambint da elit didit ho riscoperto articoli difficilmente reperibili anche su altri siti compreso itunes ringrazio ancora l aministratore Berardi per la spedizione e per la sua tenacia a dedicarsi a questo tipo di articoli saluti Angelo

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