It’s very relaxed-sounding King Crimson that returns to the legendary London venue that they first played in 1969. Fripp recounts talking to ex-John Mayall and Fleetwod Mac guitarist Peter Green in the bar at the Marquee.
“It’s good to see you making a comeback” said Green.
“I’ve never been away” Fripp replied
“That’s what I like to hear”
The Islands material had by now been shaped by touring during May and sessions in Command Studios with Ladies and The Letters largely set down as they would be on album and Formentera Lady makes what might be its live debut.
The improv section will be of interest to most KC aficionados containing as it does early sketches for what would eventually become parts of LTIA pt 1 and Lament. Whilst some of this had been worked out in the privacy of their rehearsal space on the Fulham Palace Road, there’s very much a sense that the paint is still wet on this rendition. After a couple of run-throughs in which Boz virtually drops out entirely and Wallace sounds as though he’s struggle to find the right part, the thing breaks down into a bravura solo spot for Mel Collins in which he wittily quotes from Sonny Rollins’ Tenor Madness and Victor Sylvester’s tea dance classic, You’re Dancing On My Heart.
