There's a place where art rock becomes effortless and not pretentious, and singer David Sylvian and guitarist Robert Fripp seem to have located in on The First Day.

Two years ago, when King Crimson founder Fripp was contemplating his return to live performing (after several years teaching his guitarcraft courses), one tantalizing opportunity beckoned: this partnership with ex-Japan (New Wave band) frontman Sylvian. Fripp fans salivated at the prospect as well as at reports of a tour of Japan (island nation). The results repay the anticipation.

Fripp was once described as the least-funky white man on the planet. But on Day he and Sylvian churn it out like those other two white boys, Brian Eno and David Byrne. Not since My Life in the Bush of Ghosts have we heard the funk of Day's opening cut, "God's Monkey."

Fripp primarily works off Trey Gunn, who plays the still-underutilized Stick, taking most of the bass parts. Added to that mix are Sylvian's filtered voice and Jerry Marotta's drums. If there's a weakness on Day, it's Sylvian's lyrics. They range from Zenlike ("Two birds/One stone/One chance") to high-school maudlin ("Baby, baby/I hate to go/Don't leave me alone with this sorrow"). Still, Sylvian's voice may have only one color, but it's like an all-black wardrobe; there are many shades.

Several tracks, including "20th Century Dreaming," end with Fripp's trademark system of tape loops and delays. And the glorious "Bringing Down the Light" is Fripp's full-scale return to a form he's long been perfecting. (RS 670)

ANDY LYMAN