IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON

King Crimson went trough some changes before realeasing the 2nd album, notably fripp took over the Melotron, Mel Collins now dooing the sax and flutes, piano was added with the very gifted Keith Tippet. All changes that would make this album come out quite diffrent from the 1st. Even though the idears and compositions was pretty much the same "style". And the album was build up in almost the same way, as the debut.

Allready on the 8 minute "Pictures Of A City" the changes are evident. The aggression from the "21st Century Schizoid Man" is missing, Collins is way more smooth than McDonald, the bassline also seems more "Avantgarde" and less "Heavy metal", personaly i like this track a lot, and i think of it more as a Jazz/Rock presedor, than another version of "21" as critics have so often done.

On the next track Cadence And Cascade, Tippet comes in to play, making this one of my favorite Crimson ballads, the work between Guitar and Piano is just stunning, and then the Collins flute solo kicks in, if you can listen to this and not get moved, you are a cold person.

In The Wake Of Poseidon is the only Symphonic Prog. track on the album, in my opinion not as compleet as those on the debut, but fripp's acustic guitar work on this piece is great. Shows a bit of what is to come on the next album "Lizard".

"Cat food" a wonderfull satire of a song, build perfectly on top af a riff style bass line, with tippet going crazy on the piano, Jazzy, Avantgarde, and still with alluring melodic qualities, the track ends out in a free form jam. This lightens up the consept of KC, they do have humor !

That was needed, because now we move to the very dark "The Devil's Triangle", this is the most demanding piece of fripp music, its more of a contempory classical piece than a rock track. Its very loaded with sound, its odd meters, everyone banging on their instruments, disturbing is the word that comes to mind. In the end elements from "Court of the Crimson King" is mixed in.

The 3 versions of "Peace" is the clues that hold the album together, an small melody or theme.

Another 5 star Crimson album. I know you should go easy on the 5 stars, but i cant find any way to not note those early Crimson's Essiential