LIZARD

A tough one to review, and definetely Crimson's most challenging work of their earliest records. I was pleasently surprised when I spinned this one for the first time and the monolithic "Cirkus" really grabs your attention as well as letting you know that this Crimson album will be very different from before. The rest of the album is not bad either with several jazzy nods and quirky twists and turns and the excellent "Lady of the Dancing Water" working as a perfect prelude to the epic album conclusion. This time around Fripp toys a lot more with contemporary jazz and classical in his compositions, something that's especially prominent in the massive title track that moves through four very different and somewhat eerie but very diciplined movements. This track might not be Crimson's most focused work but still a great experience.

Fripp presents a whole new line-up here (a trend within Crimson later on) with Mel Collins on saxes and flute; Gordon Haskell on bass and vocals and Andy McCullough (later Greenslade) on the drums, and they all do a damn fine job here though not as brilliant as the 'In The Court' line-up, but that's only my opinion. If you liked KC's two first, check out this one. It's somewhat messier to get along with but it'll grow on you for sure.