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King Crimson: Red (40th Anniversary Series)
ByItCotKC shook the music world, but Red is, perhaps, Crimson's most broadly influential album. The crunching, mixed metered instrumental title track, presaging the Nuevo metal movement by decadesfinally possesses the punch and clarity it's been waiting for. Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson works together with Crimson co-founder/guitarist Robert Frippthe only remaining original member in the occasional periods where Crimson again becomes a going concernto give Red a sound that's both updated and reverent to the original. Even the most committed Crimhead will find little to fault in their choices, with an expanded and enriched soundscape that, in the surround mix, takes greater advantage of the rear channels than, say, Genesis' recent remixed remasters.
Red signaled the end of a six- year stretch with a revolving door of personnel, and was an album of consolidation, balancing the title track's metal-tinge with the more symphonic concerns of "Starless"also featuring one of Fripp's most restrained yet effective solos to date. "Providence," culled from a longer improvisation included as a bonus track, proves 1972-1974 Crimvocalist John Wetton's thundering bass, drummer Bill Bruford's unmistakable precision and, prior to his being axed from the group, violinist David Cross' often undervalued contributionsto be its most fearless to that point, a true force of nature when combined with Fripp's increasing guitar dominance.
"Fallen Angel" and "One More Red Nightmare" remain songwriting pinnacles for 1972-1974 Crim and, with Bruford's kit sounding as crisp and visceral as it was always meant to, they finally emerge unscathed from their originally muddy, two-dimensional sonics. With another Crimson co-founder, saxophonist Ian McDonald, back in the fold as a guest and rumored to have been asked to rejoin before Fripp summarily brought the group to a halt, who knows where things might have gone?
As if a vastly improved Red weren't enough, the DVD also includes a four-song, 30-minute live 1974 performance from French television. The visual effects may be dated and the sound mono (but crystal clear), but with so little official footage of 1970s-era Crimson available, this is manna from Crimson heaven. A gently improvised intro to the symphonic ballad "The Night Watch," along with the group's powerful performance of "Starless," is worth the price of admission.
Released almost back-to-back, Red and ItCotKC (the latter, receiving special, even more expansive treatment) bode well for the rest of this 40th Anniversary Series, expected to be out within the year. Bring 'em on!
Track Listing
CD: Red; Fallen Angel; One More Red Nightmare; Providence; Starless; Red (Trio version); Fallen Angel (Trio version - instrumental); Providence (Full version, taken from The Great Deceiver). DVD: MLP Lossless Stereo (24/96) and PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48): Red; Fallen Angel; One More Red Nightmare; Providence; Starless; Red (Trio version); Fallen Angel (Trio version - instrumental); Providence (Full version, taken from The Great Deceiver); A Voyage to the Centre of the Cosmos (taken from The Great Deceiver). MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround and DTS 5.1 Digital Surround: Red; Fallen Angel; One More Red Nightmare; Providence; Starless; Fallen Angel (Trio version - instrumental); Providence (Full version, taken from The Great Deceiver); A Voyage to the Centre of the Cosmos (taken from The Great Deceiver). Video Content (mono), originally broadcast on ORTF France, March 22, 1974: Larks Tongs in Aspic: Part II; The Night Watch; Lament; Starless.
Personnel
King Crimson
band / ensemble / orchestraRobert Fripp: guitar, mellotron; John Wetton: bass, voice; William Bruford: percussives; David Cross: violin; Mel Collins: soprano saxophone; Ian McDonald: alto saxophone; Robin Miller: oboe; Marc Charig: cornet.
Album information
Title: Red (40th Anniversary Series) | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: DGM Live
Comments
About King Crimson
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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