Birchmere Alexandria United States

This is the sound of a slightly unbalanced Crimson occasionally teetering and finding its feet [endtease]after Adrian Belew’s illness had caused the previous evening’s concert to be cancelled. On that occasion P3 stepped into the breach (the concert is available as KCCC 34). Tonight though Adrian turned up. Though still clearly still unwell, Belew nevertheless takes to the stage and helps the Crims to give a lively and eventful show.

Fripp comments on his diary “The audience were supportive & generous, and the sound contained & tuned to the room; that is, not loud. Onstage, the sound was interesting. Very much a beginning again performance, with simple errors.”

Some of the errors Robert refers to can clearly be heard on tracks such as Elektrik, Level Five and FaKCts of Life. Yet so often with Crimson, the potential threat of an below par performance are turned around and the act of recovering from the brown moments and missteps adds another frisson to the proceedings.

Consequently Oyster Soup is even more of a roller-coaster ride than is usual complete with an unexpected coda from Ol Spider Fingers. The version of LTIA is an astonishing bulldozer in which Fripp’s fast running lines are delivered with both accuracy and gusto whilst Pat ensures there’s a rockier than usual punch to the track.