LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC

King Crimson second period begins with this excellent, excellent album. Lark´s tongues in Aspic introduces new elements to King Crimson already vast music. First of all David Cross violin and viola, which many will think will made KC more symphonic...but no. This instruments aren´t used in the conventional symphonic way, more like Avan garde if you ask me...nice!!! Then we have Jamie Muir percussion...strange percussion if there ever was one! I´ve never seen Muir as a member of KC, more like a helper to refine the sound of this album. And last, but not least the superb rythim section in charge of Bruford and Wetton. But all this musicians and new musical ideas would have mean nothing if the brain of KC woulnd´t do his part of the job...and what a part that is! Robert Fripp shows all his habilitys as one of progs best and most important guitarist (if not the most) with musical ideas never done before. I take my hat of Mr. Fripp.

Now, having said that lets go song by song.

Lark´s tongues in Aspic part I. If I had to choose an instrumental song to hear for the rest of my life, this would be it! This song is perfect and it captures the whole spirit of the new line-up and this album. Fripp´s guitars are as heavy as they could get in 1973, playing one ass kicking riff and some weird passages. The rest of the band does a very nice work, specially Cross with his violin solos.

Book of Saturday. This song is not as adventurous as the previous, but its good anyways. Frpp plays a sort of rythem jazzy guitar and Wetton sings for the very frst time as a lead singer ever! His voice is good (it will get better in Red) and Cross does some work here and there.

Exile is a beatifull symphonic song with great melodic appeal. here we have an old friend of the Crimson music: the mellotron! I love that sound, pure beaty and darkness!

Easy money brings the heavy guitars from Fripp back into action and Bruford and Muirs percussion. The song is very good, but it works better live!

The talking drumm is somewhat an intro for the next song, as it builds up from a buzz and goes on until all the instrumets play a some what arabic melody and finishes with a high note which starts the next song

Lark´s tongues in Aspic part II. This, again is an instrumental but this time of pure rythim. The sound is hard at times, soft at others. Cross plays a nice violin solo. This song like Easy money usually sounds better live.

This album is a masterpiece in a way, not only because of the quality of all the songs (specially LTIAPI) but also because this is music never done before. Just like they did in 1969, King Crimson made an album which is miles ahead of the rest!!!