THE NOISE - FREJUS 1982

The King Crimson records of the eighties are relatively easy to find and must have been quite succesful. On this registration of a 50 minute show of the band we get so some of their greatest tracks of period played live. No keyboard, but some guitarsynths do give us some of that adventerious prog sound that so many of us like. Seeing the band live in this stage was helpfull for me to understand the way the band was still being progressive within the boundaries of eighties styles.

The recording quality of the sound is good and footage is actually well shot. I just love the way Fripp sits in the back with his dark scientist look and Andrew Belew vocals, guitar playing and performance style has really grown on me last two years. Bill Bruford impresses wiith tight playing and an unusual drumkit, which gets explored during his drumsolo. Tony Levin looks enthousiastic and during the finale 'Lark Tongues in Aspic part 2' he's really very enthousiast and impressing.

Opening with 'Waiting Man' wasn't what I expected, but the song turns out to be a good vehicle for building things up. The ballad 'Matta Kadusai' sounds really good and Belew plays beautiful, yet experimental guitar solo's between his vocal lines. During 'The Sheltering Sky' both Fripp and Belew show what modern music was all about in the eighties and the experimental sounds are inspiring. 'Neal Jack and Me' was a bit harder to like, because the sound of this song isn't as impressive as the studio version in my opinion. Still a great track though. 'Indiscipline' is perhaps my favorite of this set. Belew has a great theatric performance "I wish you were here to see it!" and the heavy parts of the track really sound mean. After a comeback King Crimson re-ignites the public with a bit tame version of 'Heatbeat', a song I myself seem to like a bit more then others. Luckily the extremely well played and intensive version of 'Lark Tongues in Aspic part 2' leaves every-one speechless.

Conclusion. If you haven't developed to much hostility towards eighties King Crimson this is a very interesting and enjoyable concert. You can see the complete concert on youtube. A good three and a halve stars!