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King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King CD (album) cover

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

King Crimson

 

Eclectic Prog

4.64 | 4720 ratings

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Gustavo Froes
5 stars Yes,this is the first progressive rock album to be released,in a far way 1969.Interestingly enough,it doesn't spot a primitive or undeveloped sounding:this is prog at it's very best,unparalleled and in the scope of the best rock music ever to appear.In The Court of the Crimson King is clearly delivered from jazz influences(although not the same jazz we hear in Canterbury schooled bands like Camel),and dodges with uncanny sophistication what would be eventually classified as 'symphonic prog'.In other words,this album's sounding is completely unlike anything else in the world of music,either before or after it.There is another important element that contributes to the oftenly exotic music made here:a good share of the guitar parts was written over the triton,a musical scale which spots an uniquely dark edge.Months later,Black Sabbath would work on their debut album based on this same scale,but Crimson's addition of mellotron ,sax and flutes transform songs as 21st Century Schizoid Man and the title track into apocalyptical hymns.

Despite the fact that it is one of the most original album ever to be writen (totally ignoring any references to current LSD-powered pshycedelia whatsoever),the genious of guitarrist Robert Fripp and Ian Mcdonald also concern the light and shade contrast of the album,with delicate moments as the dream-like ballad Moonchild(and the intriguing subsequent gap between the latter and the closing epic).

One of the most insteresting qualities of this album is the fact that,although it's weirdness and at times enigmatic structures and arrangements can't really be completely understood,theres the present feel that everything,every note and compass,has been thought out for long time and exists for a greater purpose(for instance,it's worth checking out some very interesting theories behind an existing concept in the album).

The lyrics wrote by Peter Sinfield are already at their best here,leaving gaps for one's imagination to flourish.The artwork,both the front and the inner sleeve,are amazing.The disturbing schizoid man in the cover is expressive and scarry,as for the crimson king in the inner sleeve,'it is smiling,however if you hide it's mouth and look straight into the eyes,they reveal an incredible sadness.It reflects the music.'.Those are the words of Fripp himself,and he coudln't be more accurate.The sum-up of the music,with all it's dramatic climaxes,subtle sounding sadness and infernal spotlights,point out to one of the best albums ever made.

Gustavo Froes | 5/5 |

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