THE NIGHT WATCH

I generally tend to steer away from live recordings as these usually lack the electricity and ambience of being at a show in person and because of logistical problems that present themselves in capturing the musical moment faithfully. Mr. Fripp's highly insightful (some might say inciteful) liner notes on the CD elaborate on these matters most thoroughly and articulately. Despite the limitations that exist in live recording, this 2 CD set serves well to encapsulate one very magical night in Holland in 1973 at the Concertgebouw. The power and virtuosity of this incarnation of King Crimson are crystal clear on this recording, and, if we can forgive Mr. Fripp his perfectionism (and he forgive his humble audience its own limitations) this recording stands as incontrovertable testimony of the greatness of the band at that moment in time.