THE POWER TO BELIEVE

"The Power to Believe" reminds listeners why King Crimson has earned its reputation as one of the most forward-looking bands in the history of all rock music. "The Power to Believe" charts new territory, though there are subtle references to previous Crimson efforts (The "Power to Believe" reprises are reminiscent of the "Peace" theme from Poseidon, and the buildup of "Dangerous Curves" is similar to "The Devil's Triangle), but there are also new elements, such as the utilization of new electronic music technology (for example, electric drum triggers). The "machine" elements are used tastefully, however, and they enhance the music instead of detracting from it. This music is full of twists and turns, including some really wild sections (Level Five especially). Fripp has been around forever, but 34 years after he started, the music is anything but formulaic. That takes real talent, and talent is in abundance with this group.

Like so many other Crimson efforts, the contrast between loud and soft is used to great effect, creating an effect that is both startling and subtle. I find that is album to be more cohesive and consistent than this lineup's previous album The Constukction of Light (though that one had flashes of brilliance), and the production value is kicked up a notch as well. A majority of the tracks here are in non-conventional time signatures, but there is a natural flow to this, not complexity for the sake of complexity. The guitar counterpoint in "Elektrik" is some of Crimson's best, and "Power to Believe II" has a soothing presence to it that is hard to describe. Crimson knows how to close an album better than anyone, and the final soundscape here is just perfect. Highly recommended for prog fans, but also anyone interested to see where modern rock might be able to go from here.

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