RED

After two great and very experimental albums with Larks Tongues and SaBB, violinist David Cross leaves the band and Red takes a somewhat more straightforward approach in the music, a little emptier, but this time with an even denser power from the band, primary led by Bruford and Wetton who sound absolutely great here. Backed up with some mean guitar lines and licks from Fripp, the music frequently sounds dark, heavy and intense (notably on title track and last half of Starless), and a good jazz influence is present with the woodwinds featured on some of the tracks, but it's also probably one of KCrimson's most accessible albums from their 69-74 era due to slightly less chaotic song structures overall. We do get another improv too with 'Providence' and it fits the mood of the album very well though it was recorded live with Cross before he left, while 'Fallen Angel' is a far grittier ballad than 'Exiles' or 'Night Watch'. The best tracks are the Red ones and Starless which are among their strongest ones from this time. A very solid album overall, recommended for newer fans too. 4.5/5