RED

I am calling myself a 1.5 here, as I know "One More Red Nightmare," and "Starless" pretty well, but not the others. I quite like both of those, so hopefully it bodes well for the rest of the album. This is KCs 7th studio album, and the only one officially credited to the trio of Robert Fripp, John Wetton & Bill Bruford, although there are guest musicians, including some former KC members. It is also the final KC album of the 70s, as they would disband by the time the album was released. The band would be resurrected in 1981 originally under the name Discipline. See my earlier review of that album. Let's get started!

Track 1 - Red

We begin with the title track. This one kicks right off with some heavy riffage! The trio is really rockin' on this one. This album is often described as KCs heaviest. I can see why based on this track. Things change a bit at around 2:45. There is an uncredited cellist on this part of the track. They kick back into the original groove around 3:50. This is just a great heavy-prog instrumental. I like it!

Track 2 - Fallen Angel

This one begins with some unusual sounds that fade in. I think there are backwards recorded sounds. Wetton sings for the first time, thereafter, and we are in a moderate 4-4. This is very melodic. Then at around 1:50 we get a bit heavier. There are various horn parts under a heavy riff. Big fat bass at 3:10 as a new riff begins, Bruford plays some great drum fills throughout. Another strong track.

Track 3 - One More Red Nightmare

This is probably the track I know best. I love the riff and Bruford's drum fills are fantastic! I love Wetton's vocals as well. There are actual handclaps in the verses. At around 1:50 we move into odd-metered prog-heaven. Fripp has some great layered guitar parts. There is a bit of sax filling out the sound, but not super prominent. The main riff returns at around 4:00. Another verse follows. At around 5 minutes, Fripp plays an arpeggiated guitar pattern, and Wetton plays melodic basslines. There is a sax solo in this section played by former KC man Ian McDonald. GREAT TRACK! One of my favorite KC tunes.

Track 4 - Providence

This one fades in slowly with mellow sounds including violin, but then there is a bit of low-pitched feedback. Upon checking, this is a live improv piece that included David Cross before he was fired from the band. This reminds me of the more experimental, random stuff found on Larks Tongues in Aspic. This is the one that is going to lower my rating. They finally start getting into a groove at around 6 minutes in. Some nice playing in this part, especially from Bruford & Wetton. Fripp is just randomly noodling and getting feedback. This album was shaping up to be really great until this track. Not my cup of tea.

Track 5 - Starless

Obviously, this was originally intended for the previous album Starless & Bible Black, but it wasn't quite ready then. The title was shortened to Starless, due to the fact there is a Title track on the previous album, even though Wetton sings "Starless & Bible Black," in THIS song. This one reminds me of "Epitaph" from In the Court of the Crimson King at the beginning. Loads of mellotron, and a slow plodding tempo. At 4:25, an instrumental section begins with an odd-metered bass riff. Frip joins in with syncopated guitar bits. There are some horn parts, and Bruford comes in with some percussion. Wetton's bass tone is fierce on this album. They lock into a groove just before the 7-minute mark. The riff gets heavier as it goes along with Fripp playing sinister lead parts. Lots of great drumming and percussion from Bill. A new riff takes over around 8:45. Just after 9 minutes, we have a wild, fast tempo instrumental section with sax featured. They mellow it back down at around 10 minutes, then it gets a bit Jazz- fusiony. The mellotron returns a bit after 11 minutes, and the develop a big finish! Great prog!

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

If it weren't for "Providence" this could be a candidate for my favorite KC album. Thankfully that one even came together towards the end of it. They are really rockin' some heavy prog here. I'll give it 4.75 out of 5 stars. Would have been a 5 were it not for Providence.

Clicking 5, but really 4.75, 4 is too low.

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