IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

Ah the disputed first progressive rock album. Even though Robert Fripp dislikes the term progressive rock he is it, on this album, in every sense. Taking rock to new heights and expanding the horizons of artists to come.

The first track (21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors) shocked and surprised me. It is quiet for the first 30 seconds. I wondered at this and subsequently tuned it up really loud. Then the music hit me like a brick wall. I screamed in terror and turned it off, for good or so I thought. I came back to it a few months later. But not forgetting the previous experience, I made sure I kept it at the same volume no matter how quiet it got. I listened intently and heard something amazing, brilliance in its purest form. Jazzy influences can be heard everywhere. I love the wind instruments. Pure bliss. The bass playing struck me as odd. I wondered how such a fine instrument (I play bass so it is a fine instrument) could be so groovy and yet keep such a tight rhythm. I eventually roped this together with Greg Lake's bass playing.

Next is "I Talk To The Wind". It is very different to 21st Century Schizoid Man. A softer mood. Delightful woodwind instruments. A brilliant contrast to the previous song. Greg Lake's singing fits the mood perfectly. "Epitaph including March For No Reason and Tomorrow & Tomorrow" comes on next. The mellotron is beautiful. One of the best keyboard instruments I have ever heard. Thanks to Erik Neuteboom for bringing this instrument to my attention. This song has a different mood to the previous ones. It is dark and moody. Also the musicianship on this song is brilliant. I already mentioned the mellotron, but I will mention it again! It is just simply amazing. Robert Fripp's acoustic work here is brilliant. It adds to the atmosphere the album creates. Michael Giles drumming is brilliant, jazzy and creates a wonderful groove.

The fourth song is the much despised "Moonchild". I do not get people's approach on this song. They feel it is unnecessary improvisations that only detract from the brilliance of the album. They cannot see how important this is! Bands are known to jam in a studio and come out with a song written then and there, after a few takes. But this is it in its rawest form! They bring the improvisations to the listeners. It shows the ability of these musicians, able to keep create some majestical music. It is my favourite track on this album because of the noodling. The song portion of it is also good but nothing compared to the improvisations that adds to my love of King Crimson.

The title track "In The Court Of The Crimson King including The Return Of The Fire Witch and The Dance of The Puppets" (such cool song titles by the way) sums up all the atmospheres of the first four songs into one great one. The power this song conveys is amazing! Such brilliance!

This is one of the best albums to come out of the 60's. The brilliance and pure bliss I get out of listening to this ensures that it will get a 5/5 star for me. One final statement: mellotrons are the best!

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