It’s a strange feeling to hear Larks’ Tongues In Aspic Part One opening a concert after an absence of 40 years from the King Crimson setlist. Strange exhilarating. Just as the original recording served as a kind of overture heralding a new adventure in the ongoing KC story, so it does here.
There are so many highlights just within the one piece; Pat summoning Jamie Muir’s presence in the introductory build; the pounding theme; Jakko’s spidery lines scuttling between percussive salvos; Robert and Tony’s short-but-sweet soloing underpinned by Gavin’s driving beats; Mel Collins’ wry flute solo and Bill’s haunting atmospherics; the triumphant downbeat into the bittersweet coda. It’s one hell of a way to open a gig.
Pictures Of A City never sounded as forceful or as dynamic as it does performed by this line-up. With scorching vocals and barbed wire lead lines, the three drummers meld into one body spurring the entire ensemble onwards. Collins’ feverish sax solo in the middle section ups the temperature as he does in the glowering improv during The Letters.
Yet listening to the concert it becomes obvious that there’s no single star of this show. This Crimson is all about teamwork; the work of one supporting the work of many, to borrow a well-known phrase. There’s the thrill of the big set-piece moments and the joy in alighting upon the tiny, painstaking details that have been invested into the fabric of this music.
Radical Action... and Meltdown typify that approach. A classic Crim rollercoaster of simultaneously ascending and descending dovetailing lines and baton-passing beats calculated to create a wildly dynamic yet intricate mechanism.
As the last notes of a barn-storming Starless dies away, smoldering under the intense red stage light, it’s one hell of a way to close a gig. And after the encores King Crimson stand reinvented and triumphant taking deserved applause after turning in an astonishingly powerful performance.
Please note a 2-disc Collectors Club Special Edition of this show (identical to this download) will be available mail order from March 17th.
It’s a strange feeling to hear Larks’ Tongues In Aspic Part One opening a concert after an absence of 40 years from the King Crimson setlist. Strange exhilarating. Just as the original recording served as a kind of overture heralding a new adventure in the ongoing KC story, so it does here.
There are so many highlights just within the one piec...
King Crimson Canada Autumn 2015, 10 Single Tracks plus the whole show from 20 November 2015, released by DGM on CD as a special Collectors Club Edition. All of this audio is only available in the bundle in Flac format.
Bought this fine live album both in vinyl box and iTUNES download. After many listens, the re-worked tracks I enjoy more than the original studio album versions. Having seen King Crimson live in 2000 and 2003 I was reluctant to accept the new live re-workings of many songs in this line-up. Now, it is one of my favorite albums. Many times I have found myself, as a listener, at odds with KC. Then a door opens (May take a few weeks or a few years) and the music comes to life. I recently saw ...
Bought this fine live album both in vinyl box and iTUNES download. After many listens, the re-worked tracks I enjoy more than the original studio album versions. Having seen King Crimson live in 2000 and 2003 I was reluctant to accept the new live re-workings of many songs in this line-up. Now, it is one of my favorite albums. Many times I have found myself, as a listener, at odds with KC. Then a door opens (May take a few weeks or a few years) and the music comes to life. I recently saw KC at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles (June 21, 2017). One of the best shows I have ever seen by anyone.
Written by Mathieu Ste-Marie
Unbelievable recording
I was at the previous night representation when some audience members were a bit disrespectful, causing Robert to cut the show one song early. That was disappointing, but yet I can say with 100% honesty that I had never experienced any band even close to this one before, and I had seen KC in 2003 during the Eyes Wide Open tour. The level of refinement and mastery displayed on stage and on the recording is unparalleled. Well done, and I can't wait to see the same Crims lineup again in 2017, hopef...
I was at the previous night representation when some audience members were a bit disrespectful, causing Robert to cut the show one song early. That was disappointing, but yet I can say with 100% honesty that I had never experienced any band even close to this one before, and I had seen KC in 2003 during the Eyes Wide Open tour. The level of refinement and mastery displayed on stage and on the recording is unparalleled. Well done, and I can't wait to see the same Crims lineup again in 2017, hopefully this time with no one taking pictures so we can all just enjoy the amazing music and have a good time.
Written by Mark Logan
A Perfect Night
I wasn't sure what to expect when arriving at the venue. Tales of 'the incident' the night before were rampant, would people be respectful tonight ? 3 drummers, I don't know.... Especially sitting in the front row (in front of Pat it turns out). As you can hear, from the moment they hit the stage, this is indeed the finest band of Crims yet assembled. The drummers were fascinating to watch and sounded as though they were one 12 limbed beast. Messsrs. Mel, Tony and Fripp were on fire. Jakk...
I wasn't sure what to expect when arriving at the venue. Tales of 'the incident' the night before were rampant, would people be respectful tonight ? 3 drummers, I don't know.... Especially sitting in the front row (in front of Pat it turns out). As you can hear, from the moment they hit the stage, this is indeed the finest band of Crims yet assembled. The drummers were fascinating to watch and sounded as though they were one 12 limbed beast. Messsrs. Mel, Tony and Fripp were on fire. Jakko, oh Jakko. He gets no respect from some and had the unenviable task of 'being' Lake, Burrell, Wetton and Belew. Well let me say my friends, Jakko was a star. His vocals and guitar playing were stellar. I would humbly suggest that while this show/cd should be enough to convince you that this lot are the real 'Crim' deal, but if you remain unconvinced, go see this line-up should they travel within a few hours of wherever you are. You will be rewarded ! For me this was the finest live show I have ever witnessed.
Written by Clifford Chonka
What a night!
I saw KC in Cardiff in October of 2015 and was absolutely blown away by the concert. This gig is quite similar and just as good! I have said for some time that RF is a genius and that has been confirmed big time especially with this recording. The Grateful Dead were adept at using two drummers as well as the Allman Brothers but three could be OTT. I say could be but this works beautifully and I love the selection of songs. I missed KC in December 1973 in Philadelphia because of exams but th...
I saw KC in Cardiff in October of 2015 and was absolutely blown away by the concert. This gig is quite similar and just as good! I have said for some time that RF is a genius and that has been confirmed big time especially with this recording. The Grateful Dead were adept at using two drummers as well as the Allman Brothers but three could be OTT. I say could be but this works beautifully and I love the selection of songs. I missed KC in December 1973 in Philadelphia because of exams but the wait was worth it! The mix is good and the variety of tracks is excellent! I have ITCOTCK and Starless and Bibleblack on vinyl and I will have to dig them out again. Thank you Robert and the band for a great concert both in Cardiff and Toronto! If you are a true Crimmo you will want this.
