0002K - Lark

Advantages: Unprecedented anger balanced by predictable calm.
Disadvantages: The bits that aren't quite great are entirely mediocre.

...King Crimson's fifth album brings forth, once again, an almost entirely different line-up, with guitarist and founder Robert Fripp being the only permanent member. While such instability potentially alienates fans of the band's earlier works, the constant introduction of fresh blood and myriad ideas allows for a discography of highly distinctive albums to keep fans on their toes. One of this wildly inconsistent and tirelessly experimental band's most wildly inconsistent and tirelessly experimental albums, 'Larks' Tongues' is mostly comprised of lengthy, complex instrumentals with a central section of more commercially viable vocal songs, and like many of their more detailed works takes a number of listens to fully appreciate or even enjoy. Aside from the point of reference provided by Fripp, the mid-70s incarnation of King Crimson... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A fantastic listen!
Disadvantages: The complaints from the neighbours for playing it to loud.

...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Remarkable music from one of the best live bands of all time
Disadvantages: I'm not keen on the first half of Elephant Talk, but that's a mere quibble

...with the Entry of the Crims. I begin here for this is the beginning. Also because this is not a Crimson song per se, but an improvised introduction and anyone conversant with Crimson’s work will now quite how important improvisations are to the band – Heavy ConstruKction, their 2000 tour CD contains a slew of improvisations in the 2 CDs that compromise the ‘set’ itself and then there’s a third that is full of improvisations and nothing else. This track is the perfect introduction. It begins sounding like the music from a circus, inviting the audience to amuse themselves and prepare themselves for what is to come; only Fripp’s sustained guitar darkens and darkens presaging some of the music to come, we slide into Lark’s Tongues in Apsic Part III but what comes after that is stunning. Thela Hun Ginjeet is one of those musical moments... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful