STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

Don't believe I am a masochist. It is true that KC is far from being a fave of mine. But in my reviewing process, I decided to review each band I picked up all the way through (in this case at least their studio albums, because it would really be too hard for me to review all their live and compilation ones). So, I have to go on like a Benedictine monk and do my job...

Loads of difficult improv work here. Worst being "We'll Let You Know" : this "song" is going nowhere. Really a PITA. "The Mincer" is of the same caliber : useless. "Lament" holds two sides of KC which are easily identifiable : a peaceful one and a noisy one. The balance being reached between the two.

One of my favourite track (there won't be many here) is, for obvious reasons, "The Night Watch" : a sublime melody with superb instrumental parts. Almost five minutes of pure joy.

My feeling about this band seems to follow the same scheme from their very beginning till this album (and probably for some more to come). While I just can't stand their noisy and improv side, I just love their melodic and symphonic one. How comes ? I don't know, but no other band provides me with this feeling.

"Trio" is another peaceful track, but could have been bombastic with a little more inspiration. This instrumental track is too repetitive to be interesting (or it should have been shortened by half). You can't hear anything from this before 1'40". This is not an isolated fact with KC, "Moonchild" was the first example and almost the whole of "Islands" was like that as well.

The album ends up with two long instrumental pieces. I would like Wetton to be more on the vocal side, since he definitely reminds me of Gregg Lake and my two preferred KC albums. The title track is pure experimental and hard to digest, I'm afraid. Nine long and boring minutes...

The longest and closing number "Fracture" is rather hypnotic. It has a catchy riff and is quite scary I must say. Reminds me a bit Van Der Graaf who also had this very dark side in several of their songs (although I prefer VDGG by far). It reminds me "Lizard" and its "Bolero" theme. The middle section is rather dull but the last three minutes are really great. Typical KC I would say.

I am not really charmed by this album. If, like me, you prefer KC's symphonic side, I suggest you to stick to their first two albums. Two stars.