FFWD

FFWD stands for <a href="spotify:artist:71GWL6ijlpTh7oGqYlMMpM">Thomas Fehlmann</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:0aJ1FZmpkkzD6RiZe33EFR">Sun Electric</a>), <a href="spotify:artist:5HKpBHDxIDNdtmEAGXGntl">Robert Fripp</a>, Kris Weston, and Dr. Alex Paterson (the latter two of <a href="spotify:artist:5HAtRoEPUvGSA7ziTGB1cF">the Orb</a>), and as that lineup suggests, was probably ambient's first supergroup. Although a one-off project with no certain plans of reconvening, the album resulting from the few days in the studio spent recording it is a landmark of experimental ambient and surprisingly unlike the various projects its contributors are known for. Closest in feel perhaps to some of <a href="spotify:artist:5HAtRoEPUvGSA7ziTGB1cF">the Orb's</a> more recent releases (Pomme Fritz and Orbus Terrarum), FFWD deviates strongly in its sparseness and subtlety. <a href="spotify:artist:5HKpBHDxIDNdtmEAGXGntl">Fripp's</a> guitar is heavily atmospheric and subjected to the sort of heaping effects processing <a href="spotify:artist:71GWL6ijlpTh7oGqYlMMpM">Fehlmann</a> and Weston are known for; Paterson reportedly recorded hours of the virtuoso just noodling around on his six-string and assembled the bits into usable passages only after the fact. Thanks to inspired arrangements and an emphasis on texture, FFWD is also one of only a few albums to successfully figure the guitar in a central position without sounding off-balance or obligatory.

In addition to his early experiments with <a href="spotify:artist:7MSUfLeTdDEoZiJPDSBXgi">Brian Eno</a> on such albums as No Pussyfooting and Evening Star, <a href="spotify:artist:5HKpBHDxIDNdtmEAGXGntl">Fripp</a> has also worked on other occasions with new ambient luminaries such as Future Sound of London and has released a pair of Soundscapes performances recorded during a solo tour. Weston (aka Thrash) left <a href="spotify:artist:5HAtRoEPUvGSA7ziTGB1cF">the Orb</a> in 1995 to pursue a solo project, and <a href="spotify:artist:71GWL6ijlpTh7oGqYlMMpM">Fehlmann's</a> <a href="spotify:artist:0aJ1FZmpkkzD6RiZe33EFR">Sun Electric</a> has released several full-lengths and a handful of EPs. ~ Sean Cooper, Rovi