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Posts tagged Pat Mastelotto
King Crimson – KCCC44 Live In New Haven (2003) (@256)
28 May 2011
(Info from sleeve)
Robert Fripp’s dictum that a King Crimson studio record is a love letter whilst live performance was a hot date pretty much nails the truth about this band; live is where the juice is; live is where the heart of the band beats loudest and strongest.
The relentless savagery that had manifested itself at the previous gigs in Kingston and New York have more than carried over to the stage at New Haven. Crimson are tapping in to some seriously powerful energies here. Listening to the music from this concert, it’s hard not to be reminded of the risk-taking attitude which spurred the 1974 line-up onto moments of jaw-dropping intensity and invention when it too was counting off the final miles.
This particular marriage of talents would soon be over when, just two days later, the Double Duo would play its last ever gig in Mexico. Yet Gunn’s imminent departure in no way compromises what is undoubtedly one of Crimson’s better performances.
Listening through renditions of this set, there are some fluffed notes or feet and fingers doing something at the very moment they were meant to elsewhere. Yet beneath the surface details, there’s a remarkable testimony as to what happens when gifted, talented players open up to the music and go for it with a vengeance. That’s surely the essence of what King Crimson was always about.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar & vocals
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / warr guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic drumming
Track List:
CD1
01. The Power To Believe I – 0:45
02. Level Five – 7:17
03. The ConstruKction Of Light – 9:20
04. Facts Of Life – 5:49
05. EleKtriK – 7:58
06. The Power To Believe II – 8:10
07. Dinosaur – 7:04
08. One Time – 7:41
09. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With – 3:51
CD2
01. Dangerous Curves – 6:01
02. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic: Part Four – 10:34
03. The Power To Believe III – 8:27
04. Elephant Talk – 7:19
05. Red – 6:46
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC43 Live in Chicago (1995) (@256)
25 May 2011
(Info from sleeve)
The recently opened Rosemont Theater in Chicago was just short of a sellout on Nov 29th, 1995. This was the final show of a long year of touring and it would be the present lineup’s (the double trio) 100th performance.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, voice
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / touch guitar
- Tony Levin / bass, stick
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic drums, percussion
- Bill Bruford / acoustic & electronic drums, percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Conundrum – 1:46
02. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 6:42
03. Red – 6:55
04. Frame By Frame – 5:08
05. Dinosaur – 7:07
06. One Time – 5:54
07. VROOM VROOM – 4:54
08. B’Boom – 6:36
09. THRAK – 6:34
10. Neurotica – 4:38
11. Three Of A Perfect Pair – 4:31
12. Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream – 4:47
CD2
01. Improv: Two Sticks – 1:59
02. Elephant Talk – 4:10
03. Indiscipline – 9:22
04. Walking On Air – 5:01
05. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic Part II – 7:10
06. Prism – 4:15
07. Free As A Bird – 3:04
08. VROOOM – 3:51
09. Coda: Marine 475 – 2:51
Link in comments.
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
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC38 Live In Philadelphia (1996) (@256)
22 Dec 2009
(Review from allaboutjazz.com)
As ever, the Crimson Double Trio culled its set from a larger pool of material with certain consistencies, including the proto-nuevo metal of “Red,” the elliptically grooving “Elephant Talk,” the weighty stream-of-consciousness “Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream” and power-pop “Dinosaur.” But this is the only officially released recording of the sextet playing the stylistically hybridized, wood drum-driven “Sheltering Sky,” making it of clear interest to committed Crimson followers.
This final (ever) performance of the Double Trio finds a band that is undoubtedly tired and feeling the strains of such intensive energy-consuming dates. Adrian Belew whips through the beat poetry of “Indiscipline” faster, perhaps, than any live version on record, but it sure doesn’t feel tired. Instead, there’s a different kind of energy at play, of a group sprinting with last-minute energy to the finish line.
If there’s a star of this show, it has to be Belew, who’s particularly vicious during his solos on “Elephant Talk,” the perennial “21st Century Schizoid Man” and relentless “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part II.” Drummer Pat Mastelotto, who didn’t really get the chance to blossom in this incarnation, is more a foil to longstanding Crimson drummer Bill Bruford’s precision grooves. Meanwhile, touch guitarist Trey Gunn doesn’t stand out as much as the group’s ineffable groove-meister, bassist/stick man Tony Levin. But they both add to the jagged density that was a differentiator of this line-up, as it reaches out for greater improvisational territory on the complex head-banger, “THRAK”.
“Live in Philadelphia” may not be the Double Trio’s best show, but it’s still a fine one, and a worthwhile document for those who continue to follow this group’s every move.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / Guitar, Vocals
- Robert Fripp / Guitar, Soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / Touch Guitar
- Tony Levin / Basses, Stick
- Pat Mastelotto / Acoustic & Electronic Drums And Percussion
- Bill Bruford / Acoustic & Electronic Drums And Percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Conundrum – 1:32
02. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 6:00
03. Red – 6:19
04. Dinosaur – 6:49
05. One Time – 5:55
06. VROOOM VROOOM – 4:56
07. Waiting Man – 4:32
08. Neurotica – 4:34
09. Elephant Talk – 4:59
10. Sheltering Sky – 6:52
CD2
01. B’Boom – 5:44
02. THRAK – 8:39
03. Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream – 4:47
04. Indiscipline – 6:04
05. Lark’s Tongues in Aspic Part II – 7:01
06. Prism – 5:11
07. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 7:16
08. VROOOM – 3:52
09. Coda – 3:33
Link in comments.
King Crimson – Live in Park West, Chicago, August 7th (2008) (@256)
30 Jul 2009
Request of anonymous.
(Review from dgmlive.com)
Regarded as a show in which the energy of the Crimbeast made itself felt, particularly by Fripp and Levin, it nevertheless takes the group a couple of numbers to get up to speed. But when they do the power really builds up.
Highlights? Where to start! “Level 5″ is totally monstrous sounding like it was always waiting for this line-up to come along and play it; a stately-sounding “Larks Tongues” crushes all in its path and the version of “Sleepless” appears to be channelling the 12 inch remix.; “One Time” sails sublimely with the inclusion of a poignant guitar solo by Fripp and the coda to “Vrooom” has the shiver factor set to max (including some sly samples courtesy of Mastelotto) and just when you thought you’d never need to hear another rendition of “Indiscipline”, well you’re wrong. You really need to hear this version.
For connoisseurs of Crimson clams there are a few here for you to savour, and of course this being a soundboard means that third cymbal from the left on Harrison’s kit may not be quite where you either remember it or even where you would want it, but hey this is Crimson on uber-savage form, white hot at Park West with a crowd that was willing them to go all the way — which they did.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Adrian Belew / guitar & vocals
- Tony Levin / bass, stick & vocals
- Gavin Harrison / drums & percussion
- Pat Mastelotto / drums & percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Introductory Soundscape – 3.10
02. Drum Duet – 2.27
03. The ConstruKction Of Light – 8.47
04. Red – 6.45
05. Frame By Frame – 5.28
06. Neurotica – 4.41
07. Three Of A Perfect Pair – 4.12
08. The Talking Drum – 3.10
09. Larks Tongues In Aspic Pt II – 7.44
10. One Time – 7.06
11. BBoom – 2.44
12. Dinosaur – 5.44
13. Level Five – 6.48
CD2
01. Sleepless – 7.06
02. VROOOM – 4.41
03. Coda Marine 475 – 6.02
04. Drum Duet – 4.26
05. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 8.57
06. Elephant Talk – 5.03
07. Indiscipline – 8.35
Links in comments.
Ian Wallace – Happiness With Minimal Side Effects (2003) (@256)
19 Sep 2008
(Review from wikipedia, cdbaby.com, amazon)
Judge a man by the company he keeps, so the saying goes. By those standards, the company Ian Wallace keeps would rank him among the most accomplished and highly regarded drummers of his time. Sought out by acclaimed artists and successful record producers, and a favorite of fellow musicians, Ian Wallace has quietly amassed one of the most impressive musical resumes of the last three decades.
Yet he’s probably most known with his work as a member of King Crimson, in the 1971-72 period. He appeared on the album, “Islands” in 1971, and on the live album, “Earthbound” in 1972, as well as a number of later archival releases.
His sole solo album was released in 2003. The album has sweeping arrangements that groove in odd time signatures with layered melodic harmonies that tell a tale of modern existence.
The music is very crimsonish at times, partikcularly on ‘Too Much Dogma’ and ‘Castaway’. It’s a shame the intro didn’t last longer. There is mellotron aplenty and it could well fit into the ‘Islands’ album. There is some Beatle-ish chorus’s throughout. The latter tracks are like Steely Dan with the funky bass lines.
On August 10, 2006, Wallace was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He chronicled his illness in his online blog in the hope his story would encourage others with similar symptoms to pursue treatment. He died, aged 60, with his wife, Marjorie Pomeroy, at his side.
Line-up:
- Ian Wallace / Percussion, Drums, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
with
- John Billings / Bass
- Clive Gregson / Guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / Drums
- Ian McDonald / Flute
- Michael Rhodes / Bass
- Kenny Vaughan / Electric Guitar
Track List:
01. Too Much Dogma
02. Castaway
03. I Can’t Breathe
04. Bad Boy
05. Captain Of Industry
06. The Spotlight
07. Pilgrim’s Progress
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC34 ProjeKct Three Live in Alexandria (2003) (@256)
19 Aug 2008
The concert in Alexandria was actually planned as a King Crimson concert but when Belew didn’t show up, the band played as ProjeKct Three.
Recorded March 3, 2003 at Birchmere Theatre, Alexandria.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – guitar
* Trey Gunn – touch guitar, talker
* Pat Mastelotto – electronic traps and buttons
Track List:
01. Introductory Soundscape – 8:46
02. Improv I – 6:53
03. Level 5 – 5:00
04. Improv II – 6:49
05. The Power To Believe II – 14:10
06. Facts Of Life – 3:17
07. Sus-tyan-Z – 10:49
08. The Deception Of The Thrush – 12:29
09. VROOOM – 4:47
10. Q & A – 3:14
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC31 Live at the Wiltern (1995) (@256)
13 Aug 2008
Thanks to Bragi Taliesin for the contribution.
(Review from stagerat.com, dgmlive.com)
Fripp believed the Wiltern gig to be a major show and wanted to release it straight away. Belew agreed and a mix was partially completed but the tapes were lost. The planned record was shelved; superseded by B’Boom and the all-improv album, THRaKaTTaK.
With the tapes recovered, here we have the whole show — it may yet be the most powerful live album of the double-trio line-up.
The band is very clearly enthusiastic and excited to play, and it shows throughout every piece in the set. Perhaps it’s that “last night of the tour” mindset that allows for this. Whatever the case, this is a show not to be missed.
One of the interesting aspects of this show is “Prism”, the percussion piece that featured Bruford, Mastelotto, and Belew. Most versions featured all three in front of a percussion table at stage front, playing together. However, the version in this concert has Bruford playing from his kit. It sounds as if Mastelotto is at least doing some of his percussion from the kit as well (if not all of it), and he even appears to throw in some samples of soundscapes in the midst of it!
The concert features the brilliant arrangements and master mind of a sextet perfectly executing counter rhythms while avoiding the usual mindless cluster of notes and nuances before it becomes inaudible and indistinguishable between all the players.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, voice
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / touch guitar
- Tony Levin / basses, stick
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic drums and percussion
- Bill Bruford / acoustic & electronic drums and percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Introductory Soundscape – 6:16
02. VROOOM VROOOM – 5:22
03. Frame by Frame – 5:23
04. Dinosaur – 7:17
05. One Time – 5:52
06. Red – 6:36
07. B‘BOOM – 6:36
08. THRAK – 5:52
09. Matte Kudasai – 3:47
10. Walking on Air – 8:36
CD2
01. People – 6:22
02. Improv: Two Sticks – 2:42
03. Elephant Talk – 4:33
04. Indiscipline – 8:51
05. Prism – 2:27
06. The Talking Drum – 3:04
07. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic: Part II – 8:12
08. VROOOM – 3:56
09. Coda: Marine 475 – 4:16
10. Walking on Air – 8:36
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC28 Live in Warsaw (2000) (@256)
09 Aug 2008
This concert was recorded on June 11, 2000 at “Roma” in Warsaw, Poland. Some parts of it was also included on the mainstream “Heavy ConstruKction” live album.
Line-up:
* Adrian Belew – guitar & vocals
* Robert Fripp – guitar
* Trey Gunn – touch guitar, ashbory bass, talker
* Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums
Track List:
CD1
01. ProzaKc Blues – 6:09
02. The ConstruKction of Light – 8:43
03. The World’s My Oyster Sout Kitchen Floor Wax Museum – 7:42
04. Improv-Warsaw – 12:35
05. Dinosaur – 5:27
06. One Time – 5:52
07. VROOOM – 4:46
08. Cage – 5:27
CD2
01. Into the Frying Pan – 6:40
02. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic-Part Four – 13:54
03. Three of a Perfect Pair – 4:01
04. The Deception of the Thrush – 10:18
05. Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream – 7:12
06. Heroes – 7:17
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC27 ProjeKct Three Live in Austin (1999) (@256)
08 Aug 2008
(Info from progarchives.com)
ProjeKCt Three played on the University of Texas campus in the basement of the student union in a sweet little wood-paneled club called the Cactus Cafe. This little boho, campus box of a bar room usually hosts the likes of open-mic singer/songwriters or Texas acoustic troubadours. The concert was overbooked and about 200-250+ rabid Crim fans piled in, to imbibe ProjeKCt Three’s sonic mayhem. The little wooden box of the Cactus Cafe and the 200 sweaty fans were the perfect acoustic sound chamber for the assault of sound and ideas wrangled ProjeKct Three.
Here we are treated to a symphony of electronically treated guitars, drums & samples that the Fripp/Gunn/Mastelotto could wrench out of their musically fervent minds. Imagine the rock monstrosity that the Lark’s Tongue In Aspic is and cram it through Fripp’s mind, a bank of computer/samplers, and then stir well with improvised musical chops and the nuance of King Crimson’s legacy.
This is music performed by interdimensionally-minded virtuosos with their latest toys and then amped up to 11 by an enthusiastic crowd all up in the band’s face.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – guitar
* Trey Gunn – touch guitar, talker
* Pat Mastelotto – electronic traps and buttons
Track List:
01. Masque 3 – 15:37
02. Masque 11 – 7:25
03. X-chayn-jiZ – 8:29
04. Hindu Fizz – 2:32
05. Heavy ConstruKction – 4:44
06. Introductory Soundscape – 3:35
07. Masque 8 – 7:13
08. Light ConstruKction – 1:43
09. Masque 2 – 7:17
10. CCCCCCs – 9:02
11. ProjeKction – 4:41
12. The Deception Of The Thrush – 6:37
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC19 Live in Nashville (2001) (@256)
31 Jul 2008
This concert was recorded at 328 Performance Hall, Nashville, USA, November 9-10, 2001.
Line-up:
* Adrian Belew – Guitar and Vocals
* Robert Fripp – Guitar
* Trey Gunn – Warr Guitar
* Pat Mastelotto – Drums
Track List:
01. Dangerous Curves – 4:52
02. Level Five – 7:50
03. The ConstruKction Of Light – 8:49
04. ProzaKc Blues – 5:58
05. EleKtriK – 8:13
06. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 5:46
07. Virtuous Circle – 7:04
08. Elephant Talk – 4:16
09. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic: Part IV – 10:30
10. The Deception Of The Thrush – 8:09
11. Red – 5:42
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC13 Nashville Rehearsals (1997) (@256)
25 Jul 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
After the studio album Thrak, which was released in 1995, and a series of concerts, King Crimson was back in a recording studio to work out some ideas for the next release. They went to SIR studios in Nashville in May 1997. As we all know another release of the double trio would never be released. Some ideas that were rehearsed in Nashville would however resurface in some sort of form in the ProjeKcts and on the first release by the double duo (“The ConstruKction of Light”).
The overall sound of these tracks has more in common with the sound of the ProjeKcts than with THRAK. The problem with this release is that it is very fragmented. You mainly hear bits and pieces that could have ended up in a song. Most of the tracks lack any form of structure. Exceptions are the groovy “Presidents”, the heavy “Snugel”, the eerie “Jimmy Bond” and the melodic “Sad Woman Jam”. Another interesting track is the closer “Tony’s Jam”. This is a long jam with a rhythm that changes faster than you notice.
This release is of interest for the KC aficionado who is interested in the working process of the band and who is curious how some of the tunes were born. If you like the ProjeKcts than this album will also not be a disappointment.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Soundscapes
* Adrian Belew – Guitar
* Trey Gunn – Warr Guitar
* Tony Levin – Basses, Stick
* Pat Mastelotto – Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion
* Bill Bruford – Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion
Track List:
01. Presidents – 7:04
02. Scapeplay – 3:37
03. Snugel – 5:45
04. Off Sets – 4:23
05. Big Funk – 3:29
06. Jimmy Bond – 7:06
07. Have U Got? – 1:05
08. Mulundrum – 0:38
09. Too many eeee’s – 1:11
10. Nice To Start – 0:12
11. Pat’s Meckanical Fives – 3:03
12. Seizure – 0:51
13. Circulation – 1:03
14. KCF – 0:31
15. Ragin’ Drone – 3:40
16. JB in 7 – 2:41
17. Split Hands – 4:36
18. Sad Woman Jam – 2:35
19. Tony’s Jam – 12:57
20. Trey, Pat & Bill – 0:47
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC08 VROOOM Sessions (1994) (@256)
20 Jul 2008
(Review from progreviews.com)
The eighth edition in the King Crimson Collector’s Club presents outtakes from the first series of rehearsals of the ‘double trio’ of the band in 1994.
The sessions heard here are largely an exhibit of six musicians just beginning to oil their joints as a unit with no firm material yet established. So, one can’t fault Fripp and company too much for stretching out in what is clearly a rehearsal setting not recorded with an eye towards release.
Still, even in these simple jams, there’s a slightly detectable forced ‘descent into busywork’ that seemed to dog this lineup at the expense of a more focused simplicity. Eventually this led to the oversaturation and the band moved towards partitioning into ‘fraKctals’.
That’s not to say there aren’t some interesting moments to be found here. The aptly titled “Monster Jam”, with Fripp’s sinister soundscapes and Bruford’s thundering drumwork, shows the tremendous force that this band could summon with little difficulty. Among the other tracks, “Bill & Tony” recalls “Waiting Man” from Beat, and there are instrumental run-throughs of “One Time” and an embryonic version of “Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream” (here entitled “No Questions Asked”). Also, “Krim 3″ would eventually see light as a track on Adrian Belew’s solo album under a different name.
Obviously one wouldn’t expect to hear anything inspiring, though it provides insight into this particular time slot in Crimson’s history for the interested.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Soundscapes
* Adrian Belew – Guitar
* Trey Gunn – Stick
* Tony Levin – Basses, Stick
* Pat Mastelotto – Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion
* Bill Bruford – Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion
Track List:
01. Bass Groove – 4:34
02. Fashionable – 4:59
03. Monster Jam – 8:38
04. Slow Mellow – 2:57
05. Krim 3 – 3:20
06. Funky Jam – 4:57
07. Bill & Tony – 1:36
08. No Questions Asked – 3:24
09. Adrian’s Clouds – 1:39
10. Calliope – 5:58
11. One Time – 5:24
12. Booga Looga – 3:46
Link in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC07 ProjeKct Four San Francisco (1998) (@256)
19 Jul 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
This release is subtitled “The roar of P4” and that’s just what it is. It was recorded on November 1, 1998 at the 7th Note in San Francisco. It is a heavy and dark album.
The album opens with “Ghost”. It starts with a spacy sound, but this is soon supported by a fast beat and extensive soloing by Fripp. An energetic track. This followed by “Heavy” and “Light ConstruKction”. These two tracks were previously performed by ProjeKct Two (they can be found on the album “Live Groove”) and were later performed by ProjeKct Three (on the album “Live in Austin”). The track “Deception of the Thrush” was later adopted by King Crimson. “Seizure” can also be found on the improve disc of the triple album “Heavy ConstruKction”. Again a very dynamic track, not much melody but mainly rhythm. The album closes with “Ghost 3”, which is a slow and heavy track and “ProjeKction” that resembles the space sound of ProjeKct Two.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / Guitar
- Tony Levin / Basses, Stick
- Trey Gunn / Touch Guitar, Talker
- Pat Mastelotto / Electronic Traps And Buttons
Track List:
01. Ghost – 8:50
02. Heavy ConstruKction – 9:14
03. Light ConstruKction – 8:32
04. Deception Of The Thrush – 9:04
05. Seizure – 13:36
06. Ghost 3 – 12:13
07. ProjeKction – 10:10
Links in comments.
King Crimson – KCCC05-06 Broadway (1995) (@256)
18 Jul 2008
(Info from wikipedia)
The tracks on the album were recorded at the Longacre Theater in New York City, USA, on November 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25, 1995, as the band was touring to promote the album Thrak.
“Vrooom Vrooom” live album features one disc with recordings from the Broadway concerts. The final track, “Fearless and Highly THRaKked”, is also featured on the live album THRaKaTTaK. An alternative version of this track, entitled “Biker Babes of the Rio Grande”, is featured on the “Vrooom Vrooom” live album.
Lead singer and guitarist Adrian Belew performed John Lennon’s “Free As A Bird” as a solo piece throughout the Broadway engagement. This was not included on King Crimson On Broadway, but was released on Belew’s solo album Belewprints and on the “Vrooom Vrooom” live album.
Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – guitar
* Adrian Belew – guitar, vocals
* Tony Levin – bass guitar, Chapman stick
* Trey Gunn – Warr guitar
* Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
* Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Conundrum – 1:57
02. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 6:43
03. Red – 6:29
04. Dinosaur – 7:16
05. Vrooom Vrooom – 4:48
06. Frame By Frame – 5:10
07. Walking On Air – 5:28
08. B’Boom – 5:35
09. Thrak – 6:31
10. Neurotica – 4:34
11. Sex,Sleep,Eat,Drink.Dream – 4:58
CD2
01. People – 6:14
02. One Time – 5:55
03. Indiscipline – 7:16
04. Improv: Two Sticks – 2:02
05. Elephant Talk – 4:17
06. Prism – 3:56
07. Talking Drum – 2:59
08. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic (Part II) – 7:27
09. Three Of A Perfect Pair – 4:22
10. Vrooom – 3:54
11. Coda: Marine 475 – 2:41
12. Fearless And Highly THRaKked – 2:31
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Happy with What You Have to be Happy With (EP 2003) (@256)
11 Jul 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
As Vrooom was to Thrak, so too is Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With to The Power to Believe. This 32-minute mini-album was only meant as a teaser for the upcoming King Crimson album “Power to Believe”, so it might not rate more than a passing mention in retrospect.
There are four substantive tracks which are surrounded by brief interludes. A majority of the interludes (“Bude”, “She Shudders”, “I Ran”, “Clouds”) are synthesized-vocal poetry segments by Belew, an idea that would be passed on to the upcoming “Power to Believe”. Other interludes include a soundscape passage from Fripp (“Mie Gakure”) and a jimble-jamble of tuned percussion (“Shoganai”) that is in the vein of the opening of “Larks’ Tongues I”.
And the four substantive tracks? “Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With” was written ostensibly as a parody, but practically ends up as self-parody in the process. The meta-lyrics, singing about the process of writing the verses within the actual verses and the chorus within the actual chorus, etc., are intended to be a joke poking fun at the vacuity of the nu metal of the time.
While the title track is certainly nothing new coming for the band, in its favor it at least crunches along with some degree of energy and attitude. Pat Mastelotto, who is a kind of Alan White counterpoint to Bill Bruford in King Crimson, provides some of the more interesting contributions here, walloping the drum kit and inserting some fresh fills.
The EP contains an acoustic version of “Eyes Wide Open”, which also later appeared on “Power to Believe”. This is a gentle song merging the mellow vibe of “One Time” with the desert caravan percussion of “Walking on Air” from Thrak. “Potato Pie” is another Crimson-warps-the-blues piece as was “ProzaKc Blues” for “ConstruKction of Light”. There is a version of “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic IV” sounds a diluted, hybridized rehash of “Larks’ Tongues II”, “Red” and “THRAK”. The EP finally fizzles out with the hidden track “Einstein’s Relatives”, an amalgamation of studio banter and outtakes.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals
- Trey Gunn / warr guitar, rubber bass, fretless warr
- Pat Mastelotto / drums
Track List:
01. Bude – 0:26
02. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With – 4:12
03. Mie Gakure – 2:00
04. She Shudders – 0:35
05. Eyes Wide Open – 4:08
06. Shoganai – 2:53
07. I Ran – 0:40
08. Potato Pie – 5:03
09. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic (Part IV) – 10:26
10. Clouds – 4:10
Link in comments.
King Crimson – Level Five (Live EP 2001) (@256)
09 Jul 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
The new period (with its amazingly various flashes) of King Crimson isn’t just about “THRaK”, “ConstruKction Of Light” and “Power To Believe” (pivotal, but sole-blistering role), it’s yet about many other sides, recordings, influences, powers, gown states and purified energies, eclectic touches and dark permanent transitions (etc). Albums and side loops merely contemplate the great fusion of taste, passion, dark, drought, rock, math, cycle, groon or dim-stem elements have an equal share of treat, vituperance and fun-based Crimson energy. Well… here is “Level Five”.
This is a live recording from 2001 when King Crimson toured with Tool. As the band often does, they allow the audience to hear some new material that will be released on their next album (“Power To Believe”).
Like Tool’s music,this is dark and very heavy. “Dangerous Curves” features synths-like sounds and drums. “Level Five” is another “Power To Believe” song at at over 8 minutes in length. It opens with screaming guitar,and check out the outbreaks of bass that comes and goes several times. “Virtuous Circle” was changed a bit to become “Power To Believe II” on that record. Lots of percussion as the guitar joins in. The sound does lighten as percussion continues. The waves of synths-like sounds are majestic.
“The ConstruKction Of Light” from the album of the same name is over 13 minutes long. Drums open the song as relentless angular guitar melodies play throughout. Great bass lines again,and vocals 6 minutes in. “The Deception of Thrush” from various ProjeKcts starts with a monologue of processed vocals for 2 minutes. Then a dark,heavy soundscape rises from the depths. It does lighten up as synths-like waves come in with guitar melodies.
Un-critical and un-measurable, yet as a secondary kind of release and stage act, “Level Five” is almost beyond the normal drought of such albums.
Line-up:
* Adrian Belew – Guitar, Vocals
* Robert Fripp – Guitar
* Trey Gunn – Warr Guitar
* Pat Mastelotto – Drums
Track List:
01. Dangerous Curves
02. Level Five
03. Virtuous Circle
04. The ConstruKction Of Light
05. The Deception Of The Thrush
Link in comments.
King Crimson – ProjeKct X : Heaven and Earth (2000) (@256)
08 Jul 2008
Thanks to Bragi Taliesin for the contribution.
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
Heaven and Earth was taken from the rehearsals and recording of King Crimson’s “ConstruKction of Light” album. Basically, this is a hodgepodge of improvisations, jams, studio conversations and robotic whispers by Belew, all whirled around and thrown together with techno hyper-beat programming of Mastelotto.
You may have already heard the sultry title track, added as an epilogue to the “ConstruKction of Light” album. But by itself it doesn’t give an altogether accurate impression of the adrenalin-driven, hyperspace grooves on display here. Crimson’s 2003 studio album, “Power To Believe”, may have better integrated the ProjeKct X ethos into an actual song-based format, but this is Mastelotto’s Crimson King in all its unexpurgated glory, at last fulfilling the promise of the post-Double Trio research and development fraKctals in brilliant, no-holds-barred fashion.
Exactly how state-of-the-art is it? Consider that the running time of each track, as listed in the CD booklet, is broken down to a ridiculous 1/100th of a second, something only a true music nerd could appreciate.
Line-up:
* Adrian Belew – Guitar, additional ‘V Drumming’ (3)
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Soundscapes
* Trey Gunn – Bass Touch Guitar, Baritone Guitar
* Pat Mastelotto – Traps, Buttons
Track List:
01. The Business of Pleasure
02. Hat in The Middle
03. Side Window
04. MaximIzer
05. Strange Ears (aging rapidly)
06. Overhead Floor Mats Under Toe Real Audio
07. Six O’Clock
08. Superbottomfeeder
09. One E And Real Audio
10. Two Awkward Moments
11. Demolition
12. Conversation Pit
13. Cin AlayI
14. Heaven And Earth
15. Belew Jay Way
Links in comments.
King Crimson – ProjeKct Four West Coast (Live) (1998) (@256)
08 Jul 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
West Coast Live, is very ambiguous and quite the opposite of conserved state. Just like ProjeKct Two, it’s chaotic, a heavy surplus, and a very dynamic explosion. It sounds like “Ozric Tentacles meets Soundscapes”. The Ozric feeling comes from electronic “twiddly bits” that help to propel the rhythm section.
Like ProjeKct Two, this one seems more composed than other parts of the set. “West Coast Live” opens with a song in four sections (with the sections sounding like four different performances spliced together) called “Ghost (part 1)”. The album also includes a version of “Deception of the Thrush”, this time with a booming, pounding rhythm section. “Hindu Fizz” and “ProjeKction” follow, and finally the album ends with the five-track song, “Ghost (part 2)”. This last song begins with Fripp and Levin trading scratchy low notes and getting some laughs from the audience.
Perhaps ProjeKct Four has too much power that isn’t perfectly handled, but that goes well in the context of sheer wild insanity.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / touch guitar, talker
- Tony Levin / basses, Stick
- Pat Mastelotto / electronic traps and buttons
Track List:
01. Ghost (part 1) 1 – 9:14
02. Ghost (part 1) 2 – 4:07
03. Ghost (part 1) 3 – 5:55
04. Ghost (part 1) 4 – 5:06
05. Deception of the Thrush – 7:12
06. Hindu Fizz – 4:46
07. ProjeKction – 5:29
08. Ghost (part 2) 1 – 1:39
09. Ghost (part 2) 2 – 2:43
10. Ghost (part 2) 3 – 3:53
11. Ghost (part 2) 4 – 1:48
12. Ghost (part 2) 5 – 4:57
Links in comments.
King Crimson – ProjeKct Three Masque (Live) (1999) (@256)
06 Jul 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
ProjeKct Three’s Masques, is generally considered the projeKct masterpiece, containing delightful King Crimson moments.
The source material for it came mainly from live improv performances, but then the music was edited with bits and pieces moved here and there to “make a better flow and cover a few, but not all, brown spots”. The result is an album that sounds more “studio” than the others, but still retains the energy and experimentation of the live shows.
In the band we have Mastellotto as drummer, which is perfect for charismatic percussion. Correlation can be made with ProjeKct One, in the sense that it’s very educated standard of music, abstract and intelligent without growing too much chaos or music extreme. Very refined, somber and introspective in prevalent shapes, subtle and well-outlined. Thirteen movements of improvisatorial educated wonder.
The linear notes suggest you play the album in random mode to continue the improvisation.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / touch guitar, talker
- Pat Mastelotto / electronic traps and buttons
Track List:
01. Masque 1 – 5:40
02. Masque 2 – 3:13
03. Masque 3 – 6:17
04. Masque 4 – 3:10
05. Masque 5 – 3:19
06. Masque 6 – 0:45
07. Masque 7 – 3:21
08. Masque 8 – 4:26
09. Masque 9 – 2:40
10. Masque 10 – 6:11
11. Masque 11 – 6:23
12. Masque 12 – 3:51
13. Masque 13 – 5:08
Link in comments.
King Crimson – Vrooom Vrooom (Live 1995-96) (@256)
02 Jul 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
For a line-up which released only one studio album (Thrak) , there’s an awful lot of material by the double trio available, especially if you count in the ProjeKcts. This double set gives a good selection of live versions of 90s material, updated versions of older material, some improv and a cover version thrown in for good measure. King Crimson has always come alive on stage, and these double album show just how powerful they can be when they’re firing on all cylinders.
The two discs were recorded during different concerts, in Mexico City (disc 1, and New York (disc 2). Somewhat confusingly disc 1 was recorded 9 months after disc 2, which means that the band sounds slightly less polished on disc 2 if you listen to them in order. Although they were drawing on the same repertoire for these shows, only one piece (Thrak) crops up twice.
Disc 1 sees the mighty Crim beast launch a non stop, no holds barred assault on their audience, 60 minutes of the kind of high intensity few other bands can deliver. The first five selections come from Thrak, including a storming version of Dinosaur with Belew in fine voice. This is followed by a blast from the past as they give us The Talking Drum and LTIA II, with Bruford and Mastelotto almost matching the Muir/Bruford partnership for manic interplay. Neurotica is another bravura vocal from Belew, a white knuckle ride on a piledriving rhythm that constantly threatens to fall apart but somehow holds together. Two other oldies get the double trio makeover; Red, which sounds a bit messy compared to the version on “Absent Lovers”, and a nu-metal reworking of 21st Century Schizoid Man which works surprisingly well once you get over the initial shock.
Disc 2 is a slightly looser affair which draws mainly on Thrak and the 80s albums. The 80s material is reworked by the expanded line up to great effect, especially Elephant Talk which gives Gunn and Levin an opportunity to trade licks at lightning speed. Indiscipline shows the bands mastery of wildly fluctuating dynamics and stop/start rhythms, while the gentler songs show that the double trio was also capable of great subtlety and restraint, particularly the the closer, Walking on Air. An unexpected surprise is a cover version of the Beatles’ “Free as a Bird”, which was released at the time of these concerts. Belew does a remarkably fine job as a Lennon impersonator, and you can hear the band and audience audibly cracking smiles during this performance.
Vrooom Vrooom is a great Crimson live album, it gives a good overview of a remarkable line-up in full flight.
Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Adrian Belew / guitar, voice
- Trey Gunn / Warr touch guitar
- Tony Levin / basses, Stick
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic drums, electronic drums, percussion
- Bill Bruford / acoustic drums, electronic drums, percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Vrooom Vrooom – 5:01
02. Coda: Marine 475 – 2:44
03. Dinosaur – 5:05
04. B’Boom – 4:51
05. Thrak – 6:39
06. The Talking Drum – 4:03
07. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic [Part II] – 6:13
08. Neurotica – 3:40
09. Prism – 4:24
10. Red – 7:03
11. Biker Babes of the Rio Grande – 2:27
12. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 7:37
CD2
01. Conundrum – 1:57
02. Thela Hun Ginjeet – 6:44
03. Frame By Frame – 5:12
04. People – 6:12
05. One Time – 5:52
06. Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream – 4:55
07. Indiscipline – 7:16
08. Two Sticks – 1:50
09. Elephant Talk – 5:14
10. Three Of A Perfect Pair – 4:16
11. B’Boom – 3:47
12. Thrak – 6:43
13. Free As A Bird – 3:03
14. Walking On Air – 5:35
Links in comments.
King Crimson – B'Boom Live in Argentina (1994) (@256)
01 Jul 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
B’Boom is exactly what it says it is, an “official bootleg”. Fripp apparently isn’t that fond of people bootlegging shows, because it allows bad shows to be heard by more people (so he says). So, in an effort to let the band tap into bootlegging for the band, B’Boom came to be. As one of the first shows of the Thrak tour, it was recorded live at the Broadway, Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 1994
The concert was digitally recorded from the mainboard. Because of this, the recorded sounds are exactly how the microphones heard the performance, not how the audience heard it. This produces a very detailed live record due to the sound engineer’s unique talent.
There is a good helping of Thrak material but the real fun is listening to what this double-trio lineup does with the older material. “Indiscipline” is downright scary it’s so good: just the right mix of anger and whimsy. “The Talking Drum” and “Larks’ . . .” are really something. Some of the other Discipline-era material sounds a bit congested with the six piece group but it doesn’t detract significantly from the performance. Of course there is some improv here, notably around “B’Boom” and “Thrak”, but it doesn’t go on too long or go off on too many tangents.
This is the triumphant return of King Crimson to the live stage in the 90s.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / vocals, guitar
- Bill Brudord / drums, percussion
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / Warr guitar
- Tony Levin / Stick, basses, vocals
- Pat Mastelotto / drums, percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. VROOOM – 7:06
02. Frame By Frame – 5:24
03. Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream – 4:48
04. Red – 6:08
05. One Time – 5:35
06. B’Boom – 6:48
07. THRAK – 6:28
08. Improv – Two Sticks – 1:25
09. Elephant Talk – 4:25
10. Indiscipline – 7:20
CD2
01. VROOOM VROOOM – 6:18
02. Matte Kudasai – 3:36
03. The Talking Drum – 5:44
04. Lark’s Tongues In Aspic Part II – 7:31
05. Heartbeat – 3:51
06. Sleepless – 6:05
07. People – 5:22
08. B’Boom (Reprise) – 4:16
09. THRAK – 5:33
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Vrooom (EP 1994) (@256)
01 Jul 2008
(Review from allmusic)
To reward longtime King Crimson fanatics who waited ten long years (1984-1994) for new studio material, the band issued this EP of six tracks that would (for the most part) later appear on the full-length Thrak.
The band is caught at its rawest and most passionate, erasing any doubts that may have surfaced concerning whether the regrouped King Crimson could still cut it. They haven’t rocked this hard in years, the proof being in the first two songs — the long and winding instrumental title track and “Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream,” which contains some classic paranoid Adrian Belew vocals. “Cage” is a not-so-distant ancestor to their old track “Neurotica” (off 1982′s Beat), due to its message and approach. And as for the three other songs, “Thrak” is as primal as King Crimson have ever gotten; “When I Say Stop, Continue” is moody background music; and “One Time” is a slow, pretty number.
As on past releases, King Crimson are not scared to use cacophony to create musical tension — there’s lots of it on VROOOM.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals, words
- Bill Bruford / acoustic & electronic percussion
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / Stick
- Tony Levin / Stick, basses
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic percussion
Track List:
01. VROOM – 7:34
02. Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dram – 4:42
03. Cage – 1:35
04. Thrak – 7:18
05. When I Say Stop, Continue – 5:20
06. One Time – 4:27
Link in comments.
King Crimson – EleKtrik : Live in Japan (2003) (@256)
24 Jun 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
If your a fan of “Power To Believe” record, you have to get this live album. It was recorded when they toured Japan in 2003 and most of the songs are from that record with three songs from “ConstruKction Of Light” and one from “Thrak”. Almost 75 minutes of fantastic music and most of it is incredibly heavy.
The album doesn’t start off that way though with the “Introductory Soundscape” that has over 5 minutes of spacey music. “Power To Believe 1: (A Cappella)” is Belew singing alone in this short intro tune. “Level Five” is a heavy duty song with some amazing guitar and percussion. The guitar is screaming after 5 minutes. “Prozakc Blues” from “ConstruKction Of Light” is a humerous song with Belew singing in a deep voice. More heaviness on this one as well. “EleKtriK” features some intricate and complex guitar and percussion that gets heavy 6 minutes in. “Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With” opens heavily with some incredible guitar 2 minutes in. “One Time” is almost a refreshing break, as this laid back song from the “Thrak” album is so smooth, warm and wonderful.
“Facts Of Life” just smokes, it’s so heavy! “The Power To Believe II (Power Circle)” is kind of cool as the band brings in some eastern sounds (hey,it’s in Japan). There is a lot of atmosphere and spacey sounds that again are so moving. “Dangerous Curves” slowly builds to a hypnotic rhythm. This is a powerful song! “Larks’ Tongues In Aspic IV” and the final song “The World’s My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum” are both from “ConstruKction Of Light” album.The first one is all about the band just flat out playing one instrumental from them, while the second concentrates more on the lyrics and Belew.
EleKtrifying and eleKtrified. The combination of King Crimson high moments of the “new millenium” work and thrilling scenes pulse in the situation of a mature performance. No compromises. The live expression of beautiful.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocal
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / Warr guitar, fretless Warr guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / traps and buttons
Track List:
01. Introductory Soundscape – 5:05
02. The Power To Believe I- (A Cappella) – 0:42
03. Level 5 – 7:22
04. ProzaKc Blues – 6:01
05. EleKtriK – 8:01
06. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With – 4:15
07. One Time – 6:01
08. Facts Of Life – 5:29
09. The Power To Believe II – 8:44
10. Dangerous Curves – 6:02
11. Larks’ Tongues In Aspic-Part IV – 10:33
12. The World’s My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum – 6:31
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Power to Believe (2003) (@256)
23 Jun 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progressiveworld.net)
King Crimson exists in different bands, with different approaches, but always with a similar spirit (in composition as well as improvisation). This studio album is the second from the “Double Duo” incarnation of the band. The Double Duo unit crafts their sound with electronic percussion, MIDI guitars, touch basses, and heavily processed vocals. This is a very electronic type of music, countered with the snaky warmth so characteristic of the touch basses.
The Power to Believe has individual pieces that are similar enough to music from their history, enough to raise strong comparisons, but unique enough to stand on their own, and to be a good contribution to an ever-growing canon. Unique because this band is different, and their sound is different (more “futuristic”), and with new musical elements integrated into their sound; particularly, Pat’s techno/drum and bass techniques, a stronger metal sound, and the greater guitar vocabulary allowed by all the technology.
For example, “Level 5″ will raise comparisons to “VROOOM” and “Red”; “Dangerous Curves” will raise comparisons to “Mars” and “Talking Drum”; “Power to Believe II” to “Sheltering Sky” and “Satori in Tangiers”; “Elektrik” to “Discipline” and “Frame by Frame”; “The Facts of Life” to “Schizoid Man” and “Sailor’s Tale”; and “Power to Believe III” strongly reminds me of “Starless and Bible Black”.
However, the music here has different personalities. For example, where “VROOOM” and “Red” possess a heavy but jaunty forward motion, like a musical motorcycle, “Level 5″ has a personality that is a dark black, foreboding musical omen, a dead-serious Bartók/metal fusion. “Dangerous Curves” possesses the aggressive and atmospheric minimalism of similar earlier works but replaces the earthier textures (tablas, violin, buzzing guitars) with mechanical rhythms and electronic clouds.
Bartok-metal is perhaps a good description for a lot of music here; at least for “Level 5″ and “Facts of Life” but even parts of “Power to Believe III” reminds me of elements of Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta. Gamelan music is perhaps the other. Electrified gamelan music appears in the guitar writing of “Elektrik”, and shockingly, “Power to Believe II” contains a section that simulates a real gamelan orchestra. “Elektrik” has a fiery and ethereal beauty, with some intense dynamic changes.
“Power to Believe III” is simultaneously dark, alien, and beautiful. Beautiful in how there are moments of almost complete silence, just a ray of sound like light, and then sudden shocking stabs of the drums, and the rustling and rattling sounds, and the strange theremin-like guitar sounds with eerie harmonics. On a side note, this is a development of the “Deception of the Thrush”, which has appeared in many forms over the years in live recordings.
A lot of people knock “Happy With…”, but in my opinion the main riff is clearly satirical, the most obvious and trite riff occurring in nu-metal, and it is as mocking as the lyrics. But the “Happy with what you have” odd-metered vocal riff and drunken bumblebee guitar solo save this song from just being a throwaway satire or joke.
If you have ”The Power To Believe”, the music can take you anywhere.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals & electronic percussion
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / Warr guitar, rubber bass
- Pat Mastelotto / drums
Track List:
01. The Power To Believe I-A Cappella – 0:44
02. Level Five – 7:17
03. Eyes Wide Open – 4:08
04. Elektrik – 7:59
05. Facts Of Life-Intro – 1:38
06. Facts Of Life – 5:05
07. The Power To Believe II – 7:43
08. Dangerous Curves – 6:42
09. Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With – 3:17
10. The Power To Believe III – 4:09
11. The Power To Believe IV-Coda – 2:29
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Heavy Construkction (Live 2000) (@256)
22 Jun 2008
(Review from progreviews.com)
The Heavy ConstrucKtion improvs are quite different from the THRaKaTTaK improvs of 1995. The improvs here are closer to normal “rock” music than the freeform sounds of THRaKaTTaK. In general, the individual improvs are shorter, more focused, with stronger and more consistent themes. Stylistically, all tracks are rhythmic some beastly, some almost in ambient house style, all layered on top with guitars.
Speaking of the guitars: the team of Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp offer up their most experimental playing, featuring wild textures, wild guitar effects, wild samples, and lots of dissonance mixed with almost-melodies. Pat Mastelotto is a real monster here, with an array of whacking styles that range from a highly industrialized take on drum ‘n bass, to a more ambient house drumming style, whichever feels appropriate for the improv. He is a real master of sound here, with drum sounds that come out of a monster movie: pows, whacks, bangs, thunder crashes, gun shots, deep dark rumbles, heartbeats, all manner of crazy sounds, sometimes even carefully placed silent stretches for drama. On “Thrush” he even breaks out the crazed rattle of the tambourine. And Trey Gunn provides some funky, almost Primus-like basslines, when he can be heard. He gets the chance to shine with a lovely solo during the “Deception of the Thrush”.
The first few tracks are beastly rhythmic rockers with a funk-like sense in the bass work. Around tracks five and six, the Crim veer into a more exclusively techno/drum ‘n bass territory, where Pat is the highlight. In the middle part of the album, they delve into ambient-house like rhythms overlaid with immense guitar fantasias, delving into a surreal, psychedelic territory. There is the surreal beauty of “Beautiful Rainbow”, with its synthesized bamboo flute like sounds, deep chant like effects, and prismatic guitar playing so elusive and textured it is difficult to pinpoint the actual notes. “7 Teas” is the poison underbelly of this experience.
Then, there is the voyage into complete darkness, with tracks like “Tomorrow Never Knew Thela”, “Uboo”, “Deception of the Thrush”, and “The Arena of Terror”. “Tomorrow Never Knew Thela” consists of what seems like two sinister radio stations fighting it out over a beat ripped from the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows”. My favorite is “Uboo”, which starts with subsonic heartbeats and builds into a juggernaut with weapon-like rhythms and skronking guitars. Next up is yet another unique version of “Deception of the Thrush”. Finally, we have “Arena of Terror”, with the mad tambourine and the theremin-like guitar solo, with delirious crowd echoes mixed in.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / Touch guitar, bass, talk
- Pat Mastelotto / electronic drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Into The Frying Pan – 6:20
02. The ConstruKction Of Light – 8:29
03. ProzaKc Blues – 5:25
04. Improv Munchen – 8:35
05. One Time – 5:44
06. Dinosaur – 5:24
07. VROOOM – 4:44
08. FraKctured – 8:46
09. The World’s My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum – 7:38
10. Improv Bonn – 9:20
CD2
01. Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream – 4:30
02. Improv: Offenbach – 6:30
03. Cage – 3:54
04. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic: Part Four – 12:51
05. Three of a Perfect Pair – 3:42
06. The Deception of the Thrush – 8:26
07. Heroes – 6:09
CD3
01. Sirap – 5:40
02. Blastic Rhino – 4:13
03. Light Please, Pt. 10:56
04. cccseizurecc – 6:02
05. Off and Bank – 4:11
06. More (And Least) – 3:13
07. Beautiful Rainbow – 6:59
08. 7 Teas – 4:07
09. Tomorrow Never Knew Thela [Including Tomorrow Never Knows] – 4:49
10. Uböö – 7:59
11. The Deception of the Thrush – 10:42
12. Arena of Terror – 3:22
13. Lights Please, Pt. 2 – 4:51
Links in comments.
King Crimson – Construkction of Light (2000) (@256)
22 Jun 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, wikipedia, amazon)
The grandiose project of having King Crimson with six band members did not last for long. King Crimson produced side projects. ProjeKcts One, Two, Three, and Four, were each a splinter group (a “fraKctalisation”, according to Fripp) of King Crimson. They released various recordings, demonstrating the improvisational musical high wire act that the constituent musicians are able to produce.
By the time the ProjeKcts were complete, Bruford and Levin had ceased to be involved with King Crimson. Belew, Fripp, Gunn, and Mastelotto remained, releasing the studio album The ConstruKction of Light in 2000. The band this time brings together the heaviness and power of the 70s group with the intricate multiple-guitar interplay of the 80s band and the electronic textures of the ProjeKcts.
Before its release, Fripp had hinted to fans that this album would be something completely new, integrating the lessons learned from the various ProjeKcts. Instead, what we got was an album that sounds only superficially like the ProjeKcts while leaning heavily on Crimson’s past glories. There are even two “remakes” of earlier songs, and Adrian Belew namechecks other Crimson works in the lyrics.
Bruford’s departure was greeted with horror by the faithful but, to my mind, Mastelotto finally comes into his own on Construkction. Out of Bruford’s shadow he becomes a monster, adding new dimensions to the sound and giving the percussion an electronic backup of effects that augment the traditional drums rather than detracting from it. He understands how to use rhythms more commonly found in dance environments in this fields and the effect can be mesmerising.
The band offers up a curiously lugubrious mockery of rootsy Delta despair (“Prozac Blues”) before venturing into the familiar, hypnotically polyrhythmic soundscape of the title track, the challenging harmonics of “Into the Frying Pan,” and the delicate, spacious constructions of “FraKctured.” “The World Is My Oyster” is almost Floydian in feel and scope, though the Pink brigade haven’t made music this oddly compelling since the ’70s. There are monster chops throughout, as well as some heavy riffing that underscores Crimson’s continued influence on bands like Tool, Marilyn Manson, and Nine Inch Nails.
ConstruKction is as restless as it is modern–and progressive in all the right ways.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Trey Gunn / bass touch guitar, baritone guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / drums
Track List:
01. ProzaKc Blues – 5:28
02. The ConstruKction of Light 1/2 – 5:49
03. The ConstruKction of Light 2/2 – 2:50
04. Into the Frying Pan – 6:54
05. FraKctured – 9:06
06. The World’s My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum – 6:24
07. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic-Part IV 1/3 – 3:41
08. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic-Part IV 2/3 – 2:50
09. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic-Part IV 3/3 – 2:36
10. Coda: I Have a Dream – 3:55
11. Heaven And Earth (Bonus) – 7:46
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King Crimson – Thrakattak (Live 1995) (@256)
20 Jun 2008
(Review from progreviews.com)
In King Crimson’s long history they never put an album out quite like this one. Consisting of eight improvisations tacked together in a seemingly random manner, THRaKaTTaK is not for the faint of heart. There are moments of great violence followed by lengthy soundscapes and sparse percussion. There are a couple of moments that might sound somewhat avant, but on the whole this doesn’t quite make it up there with the mindset of RIO. It’s still rooted in Fripp and Crim’s ethos, which precludes the kind of alien quality most really good avant-prog seems to have.
Nevertheless, this is a release that is worth exploring for Crimson fans who would like to hear something different. On the one hand, you have to admire the bravery of the band to release something like this at this point in their career. At times they approach the searing success of their 70s improv efforts, except from a less accessible end.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals
- Bill Bruford / acoustic & electronic drums, percussion, marimba
- Robert Fripp / guitar, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / Warr guitar
- Tony Levin / NS Upright bass
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic drums, percussion
Track List:
01. THRAK – 2:20
02. Fearless and Highly THRaKked – 6:35
03. Mother Hold The Candle Steady While I Shave The Chicken’s Lip – 11:18
04. THRaKaTTaK Part I – 3:42
05. The Slaughter of the Innocents – 8:03
06. This Night Wounds Time – 11:16
07. THRaKaTTaK Part II – 11:08
08. THRAK reprise – 2:52
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King Crimson – Thrak (1994) (@256)
19 Jun 2008
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
In 1994, Fripp woke King Crimson from the netherworld once more, with another evolution in the line up, this time the formulation of six members which breaks down rhythmically as two trios to blend a very interesting construction of soundscapes. The previous band would return along with Trey Gunn, as well as Pat Mastellotto on drums. Both had played with Fripp in a collaboration with avant-garde artist David Sylvian.
The sound harkens back to the Red-period band, with aggressive instrumentals and some fiery improvisations. The new marque of this heavy instrumental music displayed more musical maturity and finer execution over mainstream heavy metal to “117 guitars almost hitting the same chord simultaneously”. Expansive arrhythmic soundscapes which drew from “Frippertronics” concepts give imposing auras which were generated by the mellotron in the King Crimson of the early 70s.
The title track is possibly as overtly dissonant and aggressive as the band has ever sounded, while “VROOOM” and its pseudo-reprise are uptempo workouts that fit nicely in the band’s canon. Adrian Belew returns as frontman, and doesn’t miss a beat incorporating his modern-rock take on the Beatles and Talking Heads into the Crimson sound.
The lively opener “VROOOM” prooves that the band can still rev it up. The classic King Crimson formula of juxtaposing raging, rockish sections with softer, understated sections is put to use here, as is the new double trio lineup. The two drummers shine especially, with Mastelotto laying down the basic groove and Bruford dancing around him. For further evidence, check out their drum feature/intro “B’Boom”.
“Dinosaur”, a Belew-penned tune is about, of all things, getting older. Imagine the mid-life crisis of the world’s alltime greatest fan of Magical Mystery Tour, beef up the metallic guitars, and you’ve got this slab of prog-pop. Heavy yet nerdy.
Welcome to the King Crimson of 90s.
Line-up:
- Adrian Belew / guitar, voice, vocal
- Bill Bruford / acoustic & electronic percussion
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron, soundscapes
- Trey Gunn / stick, back vocals
- Tony Levin / basses, back vocals
- Pat Mastelotto / acoustic & electronic percussion
Track List:
01. Vrooom – 4:38
02. Coda- Marine 475 – 2:41
03. Dinosaur – 6:37
04. Walking On Air – 4:38
05. B’boom – 4:11
06. Thrak – 3:59
07. Inner Garden I – 1:47
08. People – 5:53
09. Radio I – 0:43
10. One Time – 5:22
11. Radio II – 1:03
12. Inner Garden II – 1:15
13. Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream – 4:50
14. Vrooom Vrooom – 5:50
15. Vrooom Vrooom- Coda – 3:03
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