Fripp Set To Dance
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Sat., Jan 14, 2012
My thanks to Antonion for this link to a review of a dance performance using Robert Fripp’s Let The Power Fall.

Happy Birthday King Crimson
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Fri., Jan 13, 2012
January 13th is an auspicious date on the Crimson calendar, marking as it does the official beginning of rehearsals in the basement of 193 Fulham Palace Road. In 1969 the cafe was owned by Peter and George Calatychos although it has since changed hands. Crimson were there for two and half years. Since that time many fans have visited the cafe.

In 2011 Mark Ferraro, from Ozone Park, New York came over to London to make a pilgrimage to lots of buildings tinged with a bit of Crimson history. "I walked in the present day restaurant and went right downstairs without anyone questioning me and took some photos of this tiny space that once contained the sounds of ITCOTCK rehearsals. How the walls were able to take such thunder I can only wonder. Think of those lucky "invited guests" that were able to witness these young musicians and what was coming out of them in this tiny basement."

Here's some of Mark's photographs...

In March 2011 a Japanese TV crew filmed in the basement during the making of a documentary about In The Court Of The Crimson King. You can see some similar photographs of the basement over on the blog.

Mad Band Reviewed
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Fri., Jan 13, 2012
In The Moment - the second album by The Michael Giles MAD Band and Keith Tippett gets reviewed here. 

Mahler On Hold
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Fri., Jan 13, 2012
My thanks to RickyM for this link about a particularly intrusive telephone ringtone. As RickyM comments "So, if you’ve ever attended a concert, show, or other event (musical or otherwise), and had an awful experience in that said concert, show or event, where some very inconsiderate audience member disrupts it with their cell phone, here’s what happened in NYC recently.
Of note, is the conductors as well as audience reaction to the offender. And, it’s about time?

Wine From The Speaker?
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Thu., Jan 12, 2012
Speakers shaped like a wine glass - whatever next!

Last Chance For Last FM?
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Wed., Jan 11, 2012
Has the Crimson Curse struck Last FM? 

In The Wake Of Vinyl
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Tue., Jan 10, 2012
Record Collector magazine awarded four stars to the vinyl edition of In The Wake Of Poseidon, and had this to say about it.

Definitive, de-vinyl Crimson

When it comes to reissue quality, it’s tough to usurp King Crimson. Through the Panegyric label, their 40th anniversary has been celebrated with stunning remasters of classic albums such as In The Court Of The Crimson King, Starless And Bible Black, Islands and Discipline. Their second album, In The Wake Of Poseidon, has also been give five-star treatment on CD, and comes to you on vinyl – fittingly, in its the original stereo mix.

With Robert Fripp approving the masters, the album has been cut to perfection and lavishly spread over two sides of dinner plate-thick 200gm vinyl. Of course, it’s the music that matters, and the album sounds wonderful. Peace – A Beginning is the familiar opening fusillade of intricate power dominated by guitar and saxophones, but the restrained Cadence And Cascade, with its quiet opening passage, and Fripp’s pert acoustic flourish of Peace – A Theme and Peace – An End shine through with a clarity and warmth that confirms the quality of this reissue.

As well as a perfectly-replicated sleeve – right down to the rough texture – the LP also comes with a full download card, the image on which craftily recreates the Cat Food/Groon picture sleeve.

King Kane?
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Tue., Jan 10, 2012
References to King Crimson sometimes pop up in the most unlikely of places. "There is as much poetry in Christopher Kane’s work as King Crimson’s – they’ve just got a different set of fans'". Read all about it here. 

Mister Stormy's Monday Selection
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Jan 9, 2012
Robert and Tony are counting out time during the Beat sessions in today's selection from Mister Stormy. 

More On Grinderman
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Jan 9, 2012
My thanks to Anne for sending in this link which contains more details about the forthcoming Grinderman remix album which features Robert Fripp.