The Wiltern

On tour, after the stage has been set up and the soundcheck completed and the other Crims have gone, it’s common practice for Robert to spend time creating a soundscape that’s unique to that particular time and space, to whatever venue King Crimson happens to find itself on a given night. By the time the doors open and the public wander in to take their seats, the air in the room is gently tuned and tweaked by the soundscape. The subtle shift in mood the ‘scape engenders will be picked up by some and completely ignored and overlooked by others. That’s a shame because the ‘scape Robert for this particular gig is extremely powerful indeed, mixing awe and grandeur which seems entirely appropriate. Emerging from the ‘scape, The ConstruKction Of Light heralds a setlist that’s been slightly shaken up and the dynamic of the concert certainly benefits. The Power To Believe Part II conjures amorphous shapes from the air and fashions them into a strong emotional release. Even though it’s missing its first few bars, Dangerous Curves on this recording, the piece is one of the definite hotspots of the evening. A different kind of slow-burning heat can be felt in tonight’s performance of The Power To Believe Part III. After Trey’s solo, everything that follows, Dinosaur and feels somewhat anticlimactic.