STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

After "Lark's tongue in aspic", came "Starless & Bible black", King Crimson's sixth studio album which is partly live! I would rate it slightly better than its predecessor because it has "Fracture", the track a huge section of King Crimson fans consider their best effort. The album continues the almost the same mood as "Lark's tongue in aspic" but this album is more instrument based than the previous. Needless to say Robert Fripp (Guitar), Bill Bruford (drums/percussion), David Cross (Violin/Viola) and John Wetton (bass/vocal) shows the mastery in their respective instruments.

The album starts with odd (Well, may be not odd enough when you consider the Crimson factor) "The Great Deceiver" which is partly vocal track. "Lament" is a vocal based track and it is not dear to the fans but it is not that bad, although it ends so abruptly, it may surprise you. From the fifth track "Trio", they start building grounds for the final assault and approach continues in the next track "The Mincer", both these tracks are mainly mellow interplaying between guitar & violin. The title track "Starless & Bible Black" has some vocal in it and it slowly picks up the pace and when you are ready for the final assault, it again goes mellow. "Fracture" starts rather bombastically, it is really a gem of a track which may make you want to bang your head against something hard and you are adviced not to have fragile objects beside you while listening the song unless you have complete control over you. This particular track begs to play it in higher volume to get the maximum effect.

If you have listened "Red" or "lark's tongue in aspic" and want more, get this asap. It may not be a great point for starting with the band but it is definitely one the best and darkest albums the band has produced. It is in my top three King Crimson album list along with "In the court of Crimson King" and "Red".