polmico
12-11-2012, 07:37 PM
The latest KCCC. A previously unheard and unknown soundboard recording from the Islands band at the famed Marquee. This is before the American tour, before the departure of Sinfield, before the rest of the band turned on Fripp. This may be the best sounding recording from this band. There are some really nice moments and some really odd moments. The arrangement for "Sailor's Tale" hasn't been nailed down yet and includes a bizarre Fripp solo, some noodling on the electronic piano of the lines that form the mellotron bit at the end and a delicious flute solo from Collins. "Formentara" is very stripped down, emphasizing Fripp's guitar. Collins doesn't even play until the bit after the wordless singing. There are some weird moments of vocal harmonizing from Boz and Wallace on "Sailor's," too. The 'tron march of "Cirkus" is particularly loud and nasty but lacks the fuzz bass Boz would use on it later. In fact, Boz's playing throughout sounds much more tentative than it would on the '72 recordings which of course makes sense.
But the highlight is the improv. 26 minutes (plus a not too bad drum solo). Those who have heard "A Peacemaking Sting Unrolls" from the 40th Anniversary edition of Islands will recognize the first few minutes of this improv; for those who haven't heard it, you should recognize bits that would later appear on "Larks' pt. 1." Nice solos from Collins and Fripp and a lot to digest in one listen. It's like listening to a brand new Crimson song, and it sort of is.
There's been a few dodgy releases in the KCCC in the past few years with a lot of rehashing--and I guess that's to be expected. But even if you're not a KCCC completist, this is one to pick up. Great stuff!
But the highlight is the improv. 26 minutes (plus a not too bad drum solo). Those who have heard "A Peacemaking Sting Unrolls" from the 40th Anniversary edition of Islands will recognize the first few minutes of this improv; for those who haven't heard it, you should recognize bits that would later appear on "Larks' pt. 1." Nice solos from Collins and Fripp and a lot to digest in one listen. It's like listening to a brand new Crimson song, and it sort of is.
There's been a few dodgy releases in the KCCC in the past few years with a lot of rehashing--and I guess that's to be expected. But even if you're not a KCCC completist, this is one to pick up. Great stuff!