STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

This album is a strange one. I was used to KC's albums like 'In the Court of the Crimson King' and 'In the Wake of Poseidon' so I found 'Starless and Bible Black' not quite as interesting when I picked out a few songs. While listening to 'Larks' Tongues in Aspic', I realised that I had not been listening to this album in the way I should have. The songs are much rawer than the balladeering style of their epics on their earlier albums, and the great grooving bass by John Wetton is quite different from the melodic bass by Greg Lake. KC has become another band, and I should have a different approach on its music then, too. So I listened to 'Starless and Bible Black' again.

-The Great Deceiver: The blasting sound of the raw guitar, fast-paced violin, devilish drums and groovy bass create the sound of the first track on this album. A surprise, as I did not expect to find such on an album that has been described by the most as 'boring' and 'with no feeling'.

-Lament: I do not really like the pompous part at the beginning of the track, but for the rest it sounds absolutely great, as groovy as it is with a slight blend of metal.

-We'll Let You Know: A great track that starts from scratch and builds up a great jam with drums kicking in on the last part of the song. A shame only the latter doesn't last any longer than just under a minute.

-The Night Watch: The first real ballad of the album. I dislike the part in which the percussion nearly makes you deaf at the beginning, but lucky for me it goes away and the beauty of this composition is revealed! I love it from there on! A beatiful violin introduces the sung part of the track and the guitar succeeds the violin in carrying the song to a climax on which your goozebumps will get little rest.

-Trio: I needed multiple listens to truly understand the essence of this song. The Night Watch might just be a buffer zone between the energetic We'll Let You Know and the lovely sound of Trio. It doesn't get boring either.

-The Mincer: It stays a spooky jam with no real core or whatsoever. If this song and the title track were kept out of the record, I might have even given it 5/5.

-Starless And Bible Black: See above. This one goes nowhere either.

-Fracture: The surprise of the SABB! When I first heard this song I thought it would be a messy jam just like the previous two, but actually this track is great! The best track of the album, even! The fast-paced guitar of Robert Fripp leads you through aggressive bass lines and violins straight from hell! It seems like King Crimson wakes up from the shrouded jams of nowhere-land.

Conclusion: I do not understand the people saying this album isn't worth listening to. It's actually great, but one should not mind the title track and The Mincer. The rest is just great!