THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR

This is definately the worst King Crimson album. One of those rare missteps in their long career. It actually starts pretty well with a tittle track and ends even better with Lark's tongues in aspic part three. But the tunes between the opening and the closing track are many far from being memorable. This album is divided into two sides: the first five tracks are more accessible material and the last four are experimental material. The tittle track is very sharply performed and incredibly catchy in my opinion. It has some chinese percussions and nice dynamics. But the downhill starts right after the first song. Model man is a by far less inventive song. Vocal hooks are not even nearly as good as on Three of aperfect pair. Chorus is nothing to be excited about either. It is not an irritating song but it isn't just very memorable. Sleepless is a song with a pumping disco feel. It has more atmosphere than previous two songs but its thick synth driven disco sound can be slightly annoying at times and absolutely horrible at the end. Man with an open heart is so annoying that I am tempted to skip it almost immediately. It has some exotic drum work but it is a very repetitive song which lacks attitude and innovation. And what can I say about Nuages. It is just boring smooth synth sounds. It hasn't dynamics at all or any kind of musical climax.

Then comes Industry which is actually only succesfull track between the first and the last track. It isn't a classic but it actually builds up somewhere and has some excellent bass work. It has horror movie kind of atmosphere and some real experimental spirit. Reminds me of Providence actually. Dig me is an intersting song with odd bass riffs and vocal arrangements. But it doesn't flow very well at all, except the chorus which is actually quite good. A little bit clumsy song but it has its moments. Warning has some aggressive drums. It is Industry kind of song but it doesn't make as much sense musically. And then finally the closing track Lark's tongues in aspic part three. It has more attitude than any other song on this album. It build ups pretty well but ends too soon and finally Robert Fripp shows his fine inventive riffery on this album. Not as good as two first Lark's tongues in aspic tunes but a fine song for this album.

This isn't even near as good collection of songs as masterfull Discipline. And even Beat was more balanced. Get this one last. If you are a Crimson fan, it still has some fine moments.