THE COLLECTABLE KING CRIMSON - VOL. 3 (LIVE AT THE SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE, LONDON, 1996)

A few things piss me off about Robert Fripp. First, his statement back in the late seventies declaring that the progressive bands of the time were "dinosaurs" (he would later make fun of that with a song by that title on Thrak, which also appears on this album). How dare you, Mr. Fripp? You comment was used as a rallying cry for many record company toadies, and know-nothing music journalists as a means to disparage a genre that was more expensive to produce than mindless repetitive disco or poorly played punk.

Secondly was Fripp's refusal to revisit the majority of King Crimson works prior to 1980, save for Red and Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part II, claiming that they were history, and he wasn't interested in playing them anymore. It seems that through the nineties and beyond, he could play the finger execise songs of the eighties, and the two above mentioned songs incessantly. At least on this album, the band plays Schizoid Man (extremely well, by the way). But many amazing songs could be reinterpreted and brought to life.

Third, Frippertronics. The first track here is a glaring example of the dreariness of the concept. Twenty-four minutes of noodling through two tape recorders, set to loop the sounds in an endless delay. The poor audience thought they were going to hear The California Guitar Trio (who had to cancel), but instead got to sit through nearly a half an hour of background fluff.

Other than that, the set played here is not bad. There are a few too many songs from that dreaded eighties group, although with the extra musicians, the sound is filled out a little better. And Tony Levin just amazes on Elephant Talk. The aforementioned 21st Century Schizoid Man is just fantastic. But Adrian Belew's thin voice, even through a distortion box, is just mot menacing.

The Thrak tracks and improvs are all very good. I especially like the percussion piece, Prism. And the sound quality, rated on the cover as "Very Fine", I would say is excellent.

3.5 stars.