MIDORI - LIVE IN TOKYO 2015 (SECOND SHOW) (FEAT. DAVID CROSS)

STICK MEN is a band that scratches that KING CRIMSON itch big time. It doesn't hurt that two of the three members are KC alumni. Tony Levin and Pat Mastelloto on stick and drums while main man Markus Reuter adds touch guitars, soundscapes, keys and more. This particular live recording was released as a double album but they were also released separately. I feel that this second show is much superior to the first show plus there are three songs in common with both shows. Both of these shows were performed in Tokyo, Japan in April of 2015 and both shows end with "Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part 2". They have since recorded live albums with Mel Collins, Gary Husband and more with David Cross who is on here adding mostly violin of course but some keys too.

I have a top five here which doesn't include the opening two tracks even though these two tunes set the tone as we get an opening soundscape that is dark with some suspense and the guitar arrives late as it blends into an improv where the power increases and there's so much going on including drums and then violin late. Applause when it ends. My top five includes the next three tracks including "Breathless" with that powerful start as the guitar grinds it out. Love the guitar before 2 minutes as well and around 3 1/2 minutes they all amp it up. Next one is an improv that kind of builds from around 1 1/2 minutes after a quiet start. Amazing sound 4 minutes in with the nasty guitar and violin. Then "Sartori In Tangier" ends that 3 song stretch with melancholy as the violin does it's thing along with these intricate and punchy sounds draped in atmosphere.

The next two tracks "Crack In The Sky" and "Shades Of Starless" certainly have their spacey moments. Then we get the final two of my top five in "Firebird Suite" and "The Talking Drum". The "Firebird Suite" is haunting with howls as a bass line joins in and then some dirty guitar before it kicks in with drums a minute in and the tempo picks up. So good! It brightens after 3 minutes but then the lights go back out before 5 minutes. Violin before 8 minutes. "The Talking Drum" is intense and Cross is lighting it up. An experimental ending to this one.

This is probably closer to 4.5 stars. I can't get over how much more I like this show over the first one, it's not close.