Blimey! They don’t come much more frenetic or savage than this - a riotous reading of LTIA pt1 emerging from a down n’ dirty intro/improv. Pausing only to catch breath in David’s solo (here with additional guitar shadings) before taking off again. “That was a good ending” says an approving Bill Bruford before they duck and dive their way through an especially crunchy Doctor Diamond. The fun continues during Easy Money with ornery and cussed clusters taking flight from the fretboard like a bunch of punch-drunk wasps, ready to sting wherever they land. This is the sound of band that’s really enjoying itself. Listen out for when Bruford audibly swoons during a particularly beautiful guitar solo on Night Watch. Of particular note is a storming improv which combines the eerie Providence sonics with a blast of Journey To The Centre Of The Cosmos rocking out. Mind you, the moment when the band sail out from that to set up a seamless transition into Starless is nothing short of beautiful. A sadly incomplete version of Exiles completes this belter of a gig.
Blimey! They don’t come much more frenetic or savage than this - a riotous reading of LTIA pt1 emerging from a down n’ dirty intro/improv.[endtease] Pausing only to catch breath in David’s solo (here with additional guitar shadings) before taking off again. “That was a good ending” says an approving Bill Bruford before they duck and dive their wa...
A superb concert. In general the songs are very well performed and Crimson has so much energy! John also says "you were a mincer" instead of "you were a minor" in Easy Money. And the improv is easily one of my favorites. Heavily recommended!
Written by Jeff Oaster
One of the best...
If I had to pick my favorite (so far) King Crimson live releases, this one would be in consideration for the top slot. For starters, you have what is one of the last ever performances of Larks Tongues in Aspic, pt 1. It’s also one of the finest (the Atlanta performance from June of 1973 may hold the distinction as the definitive version). You can almost get the impression that they knew the track was going to be retiired, so they wanted to nail it. There’s also a great version of Easy Money,...
If I had to pick my favorite (so far) King Crimson live releases, this one would be in consideration for the top slot. For starters, you have what is one of the last ever performances of Larks Tongues in Aspic, pt 1. It’s also one of the finest (the Atlanta performance from June of 1973 may hold the distinction as the definitive version). You can almost get the impression that they knew the track was going to be retiired, so they wanted to nail it. There’s also a great version of Easy Money, with Wetton slyly changing one of the lyrics from "minor" to "mincer." I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind that one. The improv is a real gem as well, especially for fans of the Providence-style where the band meanders and tried to find some common ground before finally locking and kicking it into high gear for the last few minutes. The ending of the track is breathtaking as it transitions in Starless. Looking back, it’s a goosebump-inducing crossover to a simply majestic track. However, for the audience in attendance, they were hearing one of the first ever performances of this piece. I can only hope they were as awestruck as we Crimheads are when we listen to the track, nearly forty years later. That’s not to say it’s a brilliant reading of Starless - the lyrics are a different, and the playing not as tight as the later versions, but it’s still excellent nonetheless. If only this were a complete concert. I may take the suggestion of another reviewer and download the previous night’s concert and pretend that the final three tracks were performed this night.
Written by John Wetton
Brescia
Why do we always have pictures of Willie Scott Bruford on the ads for live sets?
Written by Christopher DeVito
Great, but needs something . . .
. . . something that’s now provided by Udine from the day before -- an ending. Add the soundboard recordings of "Exiles," "Fracture" and "Larks’ II" from Udine 3/19/74 and you have a great concert. Very raw set(s), intense and heavy -- the percussion and bass are especially strong. --Chris DeVito
