King Crimson - Larks Tongues In Aspic (1973) (@256)

King Crimson - Larks Tongues In Aspic (1973) (@256)

(Review from wikipedia, vintageprog.com, progarchives.com)

Shortly after the Earthbound tour, that Crimson line-up completely disintegrated. Once again, Fripp began the task of looking for new members. These included improvising percussionist Jamie Muir; vocalist and bassist John Wetton, formerly of the band Family and a college acquaintance of Fripp; violin, viola and keyboard player David Cross; and drummer Bill Bruford, who had chosen to leave the commercially successful Yes for the comparatively unstable and unpredictable King Crimson. With Sinfield gone, the band recruited a new lyricist, Wetton's friend Richard Palmer-James.

Ushering in a new era for the band, "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" showcases the new King Crimson playing progressive rock of a kind and in a way no other band had done before them. Their new style was often based in very heavy and loud riffs built around raw and freaked-out improvisations.

The title-track bookends the album, with the first part being subtle and understated and the second almost heavy-metal in its intensity. The above-mentioned "Book of Saturdays" and "Exiles" are both wistful, moving ballads, the second punctuated by Cross's romantic violin strains; while "Easy Money" has an interesting structure, with an almost funky feel and rather weird lyrics. The quirky "The Talking Drum" leads then the way for the monstrous riffing and complex rythmic patterns of "Larks' Tongues in Aspic pt. 2".

Line-up :
- Bill Bruford / drums
- David Cross / violin, viola, mellotron
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron, devices
- Jamie Muir / percussion
- John Wetton / bass, vocals

Track List :
01. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One - 13:37
02. Book of Saturday - 2:56
03. Exiles - 7:41
04. Easy Money - 7:53
05. The Talking Drum - 7:27
06. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two - 7:08