THRAK

KING CRIMSON is back!! I remember when this CD came out, i had the strongest reservations about it as it was the same line-up than in the dancing KC of the 80s.plus 2 additional musicians. Having never been a fan of Belew style 8o's King Crimson, i was very sceptical about this release.

We have here a double trio: 2 guitarists- 2 basissts- 2 drummers. The big difference is we have here a return to the roots; as if Robert Fripp took back control of the band after letting it ''belewised'' too much for my taste.

KING CRIMSON is back with a vengeance: meaner, heavier ,noisier and yet so subtle and refined in some parts. Belew vocals sound now like ''Crimson'' vocals. The first 4 songs which open the album are to my taste one of my favorite experience in the whole prog scene. The first track is in the same style than ''REd'' or ''LTIApart2'', a heavy instrumental that moves me every time i am listening to it; the same goes for the next 3 tracks. ''Dinosaur'' is all what KC is l about: powerful, subtle, unexpected turns: a jewel of prog. The rest of the album alternates between adventurous instrumental tunes to cute lullabies that could have come directly from the first three albums. There is not much left from KC80S, but even the 2 tracks reminiscent from this time are well more elaborated and inspired and mix very well with the flow of the album.

I think Adrian Belew was one of the musician i loved to hate the most for 15 years between 1981 and the release of ''Thrak''as i held him responsible for the destruction of ''my'' beloved King Crimson . I always thought that the Discipline era was more a Belew stuff and Robert Fripp took a back seat and was renting the KC name to Belew. With Thrak , of course my opinion has changed for the better. This is not John Wetton yet,but now he's the got KC spirit. And Robert Fripp is back in charge!!! you can definitely feel it on this album.

5 stars for a grandiose prog album, no less!!

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