ISLANDS

You know what? I have NO reviews on KING CRIMSON yet! Unlike others who start to review all Top 100 albums right after registering, I spent these two years on PA without a single KC/PF/YES/ELP/you-continue review. A flaw or a merit? Or a chance to make again?

Here we go. This was my first KC album that I really loved. I listened to them chronologically, but anyway when ITCOTCK, ITWOP and “Lizard” were still “out of my book”, “Islands” already occupied a special place in my heart. I love the whole pastoral nature of the album; when I began to listen to Post-Rock bands, I found many similarities between them and that special KC album. Another obviously influenced band was AFTER CRYING in their early era. To be short, I fell in love with that kind of music and still enjoy it immensely (recent discovery is COMUS’ debut). How can you dare not to love the title track (one of the best from KC) with its magical slow climax nature? What about biting “Ladies of the Road” and tragic “Letters”? And opening mellow “Formentera Lady” has its own special vibe. ”Song of the Gulls” even featured in a Spanish drama movie as the main theme! Underrated and rather obscured comparing to other KC albums, “Islands” has unique mood which I never heard anywhere else (aforementioned bands come close, but not that much). If you consider KC to be a noisy Avant/Math band only, you must try this one – symphonic, pastoral, dark and mellow.