VROOOM

I can't exactly remember how this "EP" was marketed in the mid-90's, but it turns out that I ended up with this release, rather than the official album called Thrak. And once I could compare the two releases, I opted that the extra 20-mins of the album proper were probably un-essential, especially that a few of the tracks present on the EP were actually longer than their final version. With a rather abstract artwork (we can guess a few series of windows or high-rise balconies in the red and green background) and the same line-up, it wasn't obvious to make a clear choice between the two releases. Anyway, whether Vrooom or Thrak, this line-up was announced as a double trio, but I don't find the possibilities fully exploited, like I was expecting (see Ornette Coleman's experiences with the double rhythm sections).

The opening Vrooom title track (and not thrak ;o))), in a fairly longer version than on the official album oozes of LTIA soundscapes, much more than the 80's sonics of the Discipline era. The Drink Dream quintet is not my entire philosophy, since the hear part is missing, but to be honest, this track is a bit too extreme to actually really listen to it. The short Cage interlude is only an introduction to the uberheavy Thrak monster piece, where Crimson ogles towards some UZ darkness. One of the reasons why the above choice is a difficult one is the Stop Continue track, not present on the album, an interesting ambient improv that highlights Bruford's drumming, while the gentle One Time closes the festivities.

Whether or not you actually chose the official album over the EP, this Vrooom release, while not ultra-essential, is quite an interesting variant to the Thrak album, and to be honest, I haven't yet bothered acquiring the full version, despite my preferring the 90's Mk4 Crimson to its Mk3 80's version. EDIT: that "flaw was "repaired" a few years back, and I finally reviewed Thrak and re-touched (slightly) the present review