LIZARD

For a long time in the 70´s me and most of my friends did not like this LP at all. It was a major shifting from their symphonic sound of their first two albums to a much more experimental, jazzy stuff. But it did included my favorite ever Crimson song, Prince Rupert Awakes (with Jon Anderson of Yes singing a marvelous lead). Later on I had the opportunity to listen to the album with less prejudice and found it to be very good. Actually, nowadays I think it´s really amazing that such a relative new band could achieve such efford that soon . They changed their sound (and, ok, musicians too) almost completely and yet they produced a classic, even if you don´t really wanted them to go that way.

Cirkus is the opener and it´s also one of KC greatest songs, the melody and arrangement matching the lyrics and theme with rare talent and impact. This haunting song is one true great achivement and Robert Fripp does a fantastic acoustic guitar solo in the middle that is completely astonishing! (beginning with a different tempo from the rest of the band, it must have been very difficult to record). Happy Family and Indoor Games are less memorable, but still interesting jazzy stuff. Lady Of The Dancing Water is a wonderful acoustic ballad with some amazing flute playing by Mel Collins. Side two of the vinyl LP was filled by the long Lizard suite, quite bold act at the time. I don´t think this piece was a complete success, but it has its moments.

All in all it was a bit obvious that Fripp, working with so many jazz veterans, would eventually be influenced by them. Nevertheless, it was a big surprise that it turned out THAT different. With hindsight we can see that the group in general and Fripp in particular were very talented musicians and Lizard is a quite amazing album, even if you did not like their changes in style. If you´re going to listen to this album for the first time please try not to compare it with In The Court Of The Crimson King neither to In The Wake Of Poseidon. With an opened mind and ears, you´ll be rewarded by an outstanding album done by one of prog´s most important and groundbreaking bands ever.