King Crimson: Greg Lake (vocals, bass); Robert Fripp (guitar); Ian McDonald (flute, clarinet, saxophone, keyboards, background vocals); Michael Giles (drums).
King Crimson's debut album introduced to the world a group that threw various '60s genres into a blender and set the results afire with a blowtorch. One of the pioneers of the progressive rock movement that began in the late '60s and flourished in the early '70s, King Crimson were arguably the most consistently creative bands in the genre. On IN THE COURT they blend wispy, Donovan-ish folk-rock with Wagnerian grandeur, mind-bending psychedelia and even a free jazz sensibility. Greg Lake's vocals are effectively theatrical but more restrained than in his later ELP work. Fripp was just learning how to make mincemeat of a chord progression, but he's alternately lyrical and frenetic as the moment requires.
The extended jams on cuts like "Moonchild" are light-footed and inventive, never ponderous, thanks largely to the crisp, jazzy drumming of Michael Giles. "20th Century Schizoid Man'"s bone-crushing ensemble riffs and crazed solos were of a heft unprecedented in rock and roll. Most importantly, the trademark Crimson would stick to throughout their career is shown here; dynamic variations between soft/lyrical and raucous/experimental. This was seen not just between songs but in the drastic dynamic shifts between sections in a single composition.
Track Listing:
21st Century Schizoid Man / Mirrors
I Talk To The Wind
Epitaph / March For No Reason / Tomorrow And Tomorrow
Moonchild / Dream, The / Illusion, The
Court Of The Crimson King, The / Return Of The Fire Witch, The / Dance Of The Puppets, The
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MASTERPIECE
From Progreadicto of Lima, Peru on .
It will be better a vinyl reissue with the original tapes
From Alberto Duarte of Santiago, Chile on .
A Masterpiece, but not a CD!
From Mattias Alm of Göteborg, Sweden on .
When the next?
From Jordi Oliver of Santpedor, Spain on .
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE!
From GAREN of Los Angeles, California on .
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