When two guitarists with such fiercely intellectual approaches to their instrument join forces, the result is rarely a standard blues-rock jam. “I Advance Masked” is an intricate, shifting landscape of sound that prioritizes atmosphere, rhythmic interlocking, and sonic texture over traditional soloing.
In 1982, Andy Summers was at the height of his fame with The Police, while Robert Fripp was continuing to redefine progressive music with a revived King Crimson. This collaboration allowed both to step away from the constraints of their main bands and explore the outer reaches of minimalism and electronic-influenced guitar music.
II. The Contrast of Two Masters
The beauty of “I Advance Masked” lies in how the two players’ individual styles—though both “cerebral”—interlock to create something entirely new:
- Andy Summers: The Colorist
- Summers brought the signature “Police” sound: shimmering chorus effects, delay-drenched clean tones, and a mastery of atmospheric jazz-influenced chords. His role in this track is often to provide the lush, wash-like textures that give the piece its ethereal quality.
- Robert Fripp: The Precision Engineer
- Fripp brought his revolutionary “Frippertronics” (tape loop delay) influence and his “disciplined” approach to repetitive, interlocking patterns. His playing is often more linear and mathematically precise, providing the pulsing, rhythmic backbone that drives the track forward.
III. The Sound of “I Advance Masked”
The track is a masterclass in interlocking guitar parts. Much like the Gamelan-influenced style Fripp was exploring in King Crimson at the time (on albums like Discipline), the guitars weave in and out of each other so seamlessly that it’s often difficult to tell where Summers ends and Fripp begins.
- Layering and Loops: The song is built on a series of repeating motifs. One guitar might hold a steady, rhythmic pattern while the other floats above it with long, sustained notes or volume-swelled textures.
IV. The Visual Component
The official music video is a quintessential piece of early 80s experimental art. It features Summers and Fripp in a minimalist, often surreal setting—surrounded by shadows, geometric shapes, and video effects that mirror the kaleidoscopic nature of the music.
- The Stance: There is a notable lack of “guitar hero” posturing. Both men often appear stoic and focused, emphasizing that the music is a product of deep concentration and technical synergy rather than theatrical performance.
- The Atmosphere: The video uses slow-motion and color filters to enhance the dreamlike, hypnotic quality of the instrumental, making it an early pioneer of the “art-video” genre on MTV.
V. Conclusion: A Legacy of Texture
“I Advance Masked” remains one of the most successful instrumental collaborations in rock history because it successfully merged two distinct musical identities into a singular, cohesive voice. It challenged listeners to hear the guitar not just as a lead instrument, but as a generator of complex, moving architectural sound.
For fans of ambient, progressive, and experimental music, this track is a fundamental document of what happens when two masters stop trying to “play” and start trying to “build” with sound.
