King Crimson - Discipline (1981) (@256)

King Crimson - Discipline (1981) (@256)

(Review from progarchives.com)

In 1981, Fripp formed a band called Discipline which followed the art/rock framework in the sense that it drew ideas from foreign sources which included rhythmical elements of Javanese music combined with rock and pop stylings. In order to achieve a contrast with his own unique guitar technique he asked Adrian Belew (fresh out of Zappa band, touring with The Talking Heads at the time) to join him and former King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford along with master bassist Tony Levin (from innumerable jazz/rock band) in his latest musical endeavour.

Not only were fresh musical ideas sought out but innovations in technology were also exploited with the use of guitar synthesisers, electric drums and Levin's use of the Chapman Stick, a multi stringed instrument on which bass lines and chords could be played simultaneously by means of a tapping technique. The resulting sound was "decidedly dangerous" and occupied a grey area somewhere between the Talking Heads and the new metal derived grunge and industrial music which was also beginning to surface in the early 80s. It embodied many aspects of the previous 1974 King Crimson entity as well, including improvisation with heavy emphasis on intricate instrumental ability in addition to, perhaps most importantly, artistic freedom within the concept of a collective group effort. Prior to the release of the group's first album it was decided to change the name to King Crimson thus ushering in a new era of music that would continue to devastate.

The new album was appropriately entitled Discipline which accurately reflected the mindset which was required in order to execute the demanding nature of the various compositions. Their impossible time signatures, polyrhythms and hypnotic guitar phrasings would also set the norm for the two succeeding works, "Beat" and "Three Of A Perfect Pair" along with Belew's charismatic vocals and stage presence which would also recall Jamie Muir's antics from the early 70s.

A more pop oriented attitude along with world beat ingredients was evident on the new album and at first they didn't sit too well with some older fans who were expecting a re-emergence of the darker more foreboding Crimson creature of 72-74. But times had changed considerably and the Crims quickly found an audience both young and old. Some ghosts of the past did indeed linger within the new music as exemplified in the title track's evil twin , "Indiscipline". With its overdriven power guitar chords, it was by far the heaviest track recorded by the band to date. Their fiery live performances continued to outshine the studio albums with improvisations as well as updated interpretations of earlier material.

Line-up :
- Adrian Belew / guitar, vocals
- Bill Bruford / drums
- Robert Fripp / guitar, devices
- Tony Levin / Stick, basses, back vocals

Track List :
01. Elephant Talk - 4:42
02. Frame by Frame - 5:10
03. Matte Kudasai - 3:48
04. Indiscipline - 4:33
05. Thela Hun Ginjeet - 6:26
06. The Sheltering Sky - 8:23
07. Discipline - 5:06