STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

Don't get me wrong I am a big King Crimson fan but this was a disappointment on Lark's Tongues In Aspic and weaker than the follow up, Red. It is a largely experimental effort, half of which is recorded live and the other, you guessed it, in the studio. ' Great Deceiver' gets the album off to a menacing start and Lament follows, more a slowburner that gradually breaks into some serious riffs. The following ' We'll Let You Know and Nightwatch, both live are pretty much forgettable. The title track for me is the best here with some fine drumming from Bill Bruford. Other highlights would be Trio. John Wetton provides good bass work for Robert Fripp but to stress this was KC experimenting all the way. Absolutely no compromise. Two and a half stars.