Bill Rieflin

Birth of a Giant (First World)
by Lex Marburger

Hey, a new King Crimson album! Um… no. But damn if it don’t got Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn on almost every track. Not what you’d expect from Bill Rieflin, Ministry’s drummer from ’86 to ’94 (not just drumming either. Didja know he did all the guitars for “Stigmata”? Neither did I). Sure, he calls it pop, but Birth of a Giant is skewed art-rock semi-atonal musings much in the Crimson style. Even Rieflin’s voice has an Island-ish feel to it.

The beats are a little funkier (sorry Bruford, but you’re a little too precise at times), and the “art-ness” isn’t as prevalent (no extended solos or atmospheric jaunts a la Thrakk Attakk), but if you’re gonna use Fripp, you’re gonna get that Crimson sound. Not that it’s such a bad thing, mind you. Unusual music, cool grooves, and enough odd little notes to keep it interesting. Not electronic (‘tho there’s programming all over the place), too smooth for rock (‘tho it does rock), not dance music (‘tho I caught myself doing a butt wiggle or two)… I guess “pop” is as close as you’d get. An unexpected surprise from an unexpected source. Just don’t expect a Ministry knock off.
(PO Box 30932 Seattle, WA 98103)