Freedom to Music
King Crimson – KCCC39 Live in Milan (2003) (@256)
23 Dec 2009
(Review from allaboutjazz.com)
This archival live album captures the last commercially recorded incarnation early into its final European tour before Warr touch guitarist Trey Gunn’s departure and, while it may have a few more warts than other KCCC recordings, they only serve to make Crimson more human.
Amongst the more noticeable warts: a barely perceptible ungluing of the interlocking guitars near the end of the Neuvo Metal anthem, “Level Five”; a false start into “The ConstruKction of Light” before a gritty “ProzaKc Blues,” despite featuring one of guitarist Adrian Belew’s best vocals; and momentary sonic glitches during what are meant to be silent sections during the power-pop “Dinosaur” and pulsing complexity of “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic: Part Four,” the latter just before Belew delivers one of the most blistering solos of any documented version.
The show is similar in structure to many other shows around that time, weighing heavily on material from the then recently released “Power to Believe”. Still, a special energy imbues some of the material, and a particularly gossamer-like feel to the intersecting guitars of “The ConstruKction of Light.” “Elephant Talk” — a favorite dating back to the 80s Crim with Fripp, Belew, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Bill Bruford — plods along more, well, elephant-like, courtesy of the overdriven bottom end of Gunn’s touch guitar and sports a simply stunning, never-before-documented Middle Eastern-inflected solo from Belew that also layers either his radically processed voice or an effect applied to his guitar that’s unique, even in his seemingly infinite sonic palette.
There have been briefer “Introductory Soundscapes” on other Crimson live recordings of the period, but this is the first time a full-length opening set by Fripp, nearly 26 minutes long, is included. Ethereal and tranquil, it’s the calm before the storm as it segues into the equally rarified miniature, “The Power to Believe I,” before Crimson—with drummer Pat Mastelotto’s acoustic/electric kit thundering across the stereo landscape—hits the crowd with the one-two punch of “Level Five” and “ProzaKc Blues.”
Other highlights are an especially poignant “The Deception of the Thrush,” a screaming, frantically strummed Fripp solo over the head-banging riff of “Facts of Life” and the texturally rich, part Gamelan “The Power to Believe II.”
“Live in Milan” may not be essential Crimson, but there are plenty of rewards to differentiate it from others in the series, and the warts-and-all approach just cements Crimson as a group that takes risks and isn’t afraid to show its tremendous strengths…and very occasional weaknesses.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar & vocals
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / touch guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic and electronic drumming
Track List:
CD1
01. Introductory Soundscape – 25:57
02. The Power To Believe I – 0:43
03. Level Five – 7:26
04. ProzaKc Blues – 5:27
05. The ConstruKction Of Light – 8:40
06. Facts Of Live – 5:34
07. EleKtriK – 7:51
08. The Power To Believe II – 7:32
09. Dinosaur – 6:18
CD2
01. One Time – 6:33
02. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With – 3:59
03. Dangerous Curves – 5:41
04. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic, Part Four – 13:07
05. The Power To Believe III – 7:39
06. Elephant Talk – 6:45
07. Red – 6:23
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about 5 years ago
OGG!
Filesonic 1 -> http://tinyurl.com/428gqpy
Filesonic 2 -> http://tinyurl.com/3o2qgud
Hotfile 1 -> http://tinyurl.com/3ethd6x
Hotfile 2 -> http://tinyurl.com/3e5whgr
Rapidshare 1 -> http://tinyurl.com/yk2qsrb
Rapidshare 2 -> http://tinyurl.com/yhlq873
Password -> sakalli
about 2 years ago
Thanks for this – Track 2 on cd1 did not come through.
about 2 years ago
> Track 2 on cd1 did not come through.
It’s on the second archive file. Make sure you unzipped both.
about 2 years ago
You’re right – sorry! Thanks again
about 2 years ago
very nice… merry xmas!
about 2 years ago
Files removed in both RS and Hotfile?
about 2 years ago
Thanks! No problems now!
Sounds interesting and in some places, brilliant.
about 2 years ago
Could you please repost, the file has been removed, Thanks
about 2 years ago
Got ‘em, Thanks Bro!
about 6 months ago
Hello…track 8 and 9 of the first cd are not on the file
about 6 months ago
Unzip both zip files.