STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

I think this one's a gem. It's kind of strange to listen to this after "Larks' ", because the mood is pretty different. Here KC show an unusual "sunny side", which can be heard in great songs such as "The Great Deceiver" and on the instrumental "We''ll let you know". It seems like they were trying to be kind of more accessible here, given the songs' length (which is shorter than usual). But this impression soon dissolves as you listen to such strange pieces like "The Mincer", really weird, almost nightmare like, with a quasi lullaby vocal part over a pretty strange groove. But then again you enter into dreams with the most beautiful ballad Mr. Fripp has ever come up with and one of the best rock songs ever, "The night watch", simply amazing. Whoever is not touched by this is not human. And it's follower, "Trio", one of the sweetest pieces of music ever written, simple, beautiful, moving music. The weirdness is still there with "Starless and bible black", which I would consider a masterpiece just for the title, even though it is the song I like less on the album: it's a long, overlong (and a little pointless in my opinion) improv. Pretty atmospheric anyway. The album ends with a masterpiece of prog and one among KC's best, the instrumental "Fracture", which sees Fripp at the peak of his amazing guitar skills, and leaves you just breathless with its awesome final crescendo. Beautiful and crazy.

This album is pretty diversified and interesting, it has the most beautiful ballad by KC, it has one of the best instrumental songs ever, it has the irony, it has the adventure, it has a playful atmosphere at times that we rarely find again in KC's discography.

Higly recommended.