PROJEKCT X: HEAVEN AND EARTH

Following The ConstruKtion of Light, ProjeKct X (the full quartet of King Crimson, just under a different moniker) put out a full album. Much like ProjeKct Two, it's clear that this music stemmed primarily from jamming and experimentation, but it is notably better than Space Groove. The sound palette is more diverse and earthier, which works to the band's strengths. Heaven and Earth, ProjeKct X's sole album, is overlong, meandering, and generally unnecessary, but it's got some good stuff scattered throughout.

"The Business of Pleasure" is a good, growling intro with industrial flavors. But the next couple tracks each meditate on one not-very-interesting idea apiece. "Maximizer" sounds like it could have been refined to fit in on a proper KC album, and the nine-and-a-half-minute "Strange Ears (Aging Rapidly)" is an alright jam.

There are some fun, wonky ideas in "Overhead Floor Mats Under Toe", and "Six O'Clock" has a good, trudging rhythm. Most of these songs?especially the ones over three minutes long?go on for much longer than they need to, which hampers the enjoyability of this record. There's too much muddy guitar noodling and too many vaguely-electronic beats that go nowhere.

"One E End" is especially electronic, even by this release's standards, and "Two Awkward Moments" is a decent one-minute interlude. "Demolition" dwells on one riff for seven minutes when 90 seconds would have been fine.

The title track, which appeared on ConstruKction, is the penultimate cut. Heaven and Earth ends with "Belew Jay Way". This torpid piece is your typical King Crimson jam, insofar as it hints at something interesting that may happen, but it instead simply lingers for too long without coming to a satisfying conclusion.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2024/04/15/deep-dive-king-crimson/