It takes several minutes before one's ears adjust to the sonic murk of this audience recording even after Alex ‘Stormy’ Mundy has worked his sonic magic over its contents. “I have managed to make it 10 times more listenable! You should hear the cassette!,” says DGM’s in-house hero.
Regardless of the sonic shortcomings, it’s possible to discern the Crims were on fiery form just three days into their UK tour in the week of the release of Larks’ Tongues In Aspic. The speed with which they tackle LTIA Pt.1 during this period is always a cause for wonder. The swells of the climactic build in Easy Money, even though partially diminished beneath the wave of distortion, remains impressive.
The real surprise, however, is the segue from Easy Money into the riff that would later form the central instrumental section of Fallen Angel. In this setting David Cross uses it as a platform for some very effective soloing, gliding over the see-sawing groove before the piece slowly dissolves towards the introduction to Exiles.
The ensemble comes out of Book Of Saturday with an improv that begins with a slow march that eventually becomes wreathed in swaying lines from Cross and Fripp as Wetton and Bruford stoke up the intensity in what is a great improv. The recording may be flawed but the gig is fantastic!
It takes several minutes before one's ears adjust to the sonic murk of this audience recording even after Alex ‘Stormy’ Mundy has worked his sonic magic over its contents. “I have managed to make it 10 times more listenable! You should hear the cassette!,” says DGM’s in-house hero.
Regardless of the sonic shortcomings, it’s possible to discern...
First off the more important thing , the audio isn’t as bad as the crew puts out of course it’s bootleg audio and you can tell but certainly not bad and a high three than a low. A couple of great improvs with the jam around the fallen angel riff always being a surprise to listen too. The band sounds energized , ambitious and definitely in fire form, not to mention the nice jazzy and quick solo in easy money. The announcement after an amazing larks part 1 is one of the best i’ve heard , it...
First off the more important thing , the audio isn’t as bad as the crew puts out of course it’s bootleg audio and you can tell but certainly not bad and a high three than a low. A couple of great improvs with the jam around the fallen angel riff always being a surprise to listen too. The band sounds energized , ambitious and definitely in fire form, not to mention the nice jazzy and quick solo in easy money. The announcement after an amazing larks part 1 is one of the best i’ve heard , it’s clear and Roberts standup act is on full affect as he reads newspapers clippings of the band to a very lively London audience who atleast 50% most likely seen live based on the reaction during his announcement. Not to mention one of the best talking drum/larks pt 2 i’ve heard from the lineup as well so a very great show all around with better audio than described! Worth checking out if your thinking about it.
Written by Jonathan Wilson
73 sweet spot
Listening to this concert reminds me of why I persist in my view that all early 73 Crim should be sought and coveted. To me this sparse ground is the sweet spot between the flailing chains of Jamie’s anarchy and the growing power of the mighty John and Bill powerhouse, during which period, to quote RF, there was still “delicacy and wood “.
Sure the recording is well murky and may not be pleasant to a non-bootleg-sensitive pair of ears, but there are points of interest here. Firstly an ear...
Listening to this concert reminds me of why I persist in my view that all early 73 Crim should be sought and coveted. To me this sparse ground is the sweet spot between the flailing chains of Jamie’s anarchy and the growing power of the mighty John and Bill powerhouse, during which period, to quote RF, there was still “delicacy and wood “.
Sure the recording is well murky and may not be pleasant to a non-bootleg-sensitive pair of ears, but there are points of interest here. Firstly an early and differently phrased Doctor D, and in the second improv and into Talking Drum an open landscape that welcomes David’s confident and beautiful playing.
Thank you Alex once again.
