When Pat Mastelotto triggers the sample of the chord of considerable doom from The Power To Believe it ushers in the show proper. As the drum duet gets underway you’ll also hear David Cross’ violin obligato from LTIA I gently keening away in the background. Thus very different ends of the Crimson spectrum are commingled in the live arena. On the second night in New York Crimson sound like they’ve loosened up a bit more.
The Construction Of Light still presents its challenges but the recoveries are more nimble, building a level of confidence that takes them comfortably through Red, Frame By Frame and Neurotica with ease. This part of the show has some real energy that has sometimes been somewhat dissipated in previous performances. After the storm of LTIA II the calm of One Time provides an opportunity for the quintet to regroup. The juice required to fuel a Crimson show is considerable and while each player needs to keep their focus close the downtempo nature of the piece gives band and audience a respite.
However, after Dinosaur, Level Five feels curiously underpowered with a few missed cues and downbeats. Whatever the cause of the distraction might have been it’s forgotten in the party-like atmosphere of Sleepless. The New York audience has warmed up a lot after the remorseless pounding of Vrooom and coda and by the time the Crims have dashed off sprightly renditions of Thela, Elephant Talk and Indiscipline, with some ace playing from Fripp and Harrison in particular, everyone in the room seems happy with what they have to be happy with.
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