IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON

King Crimson follow up the masterful, groundbreaking In The Court Of The Crimson King with an album that somewhat clones many facets of the debut. Even the title becomes a mouthful and certainly looks like a chapter from the very same book. But like the first one In The Wake Of Poseidon is a strong album as Robert Fripp and company are still streets ahead of the pack as the 1970s take hold. The music on King Crimson's second release is even more extravagant than before with the title track coming across so very orchestrated and almost theatric with the mellotron just that bit overboard creating a massive drama for the nearly eight minutes duration. But the album does have a fine variation. "Cadence And Cascade" is a beautiful delicate and melodic ballad sung by Gordan Haskell, though the nature of his singing makes it almost difficult to hear, especially it coming after the rampart urbanesque "Pictures Of A City (including 42nd at Treadmill)" as sung menacingly by Greg Lake. A song which has its roots in "21st Century Schizoid Man" though not as dynamic as that which opened the debut album. The B side of In The Wake Of Poseidon is a very complex and dark affair, with the exception of "Cat Foot" which sounds like a typical 60s beat track except this is King Crimson so it does have an extra bite, but it does stand out like a sore thumb for all its humour, intended or other wise. "The Devil's Triangle" (which includes the sections a) Mesday morn b) Hand of Sceiron c) garden of worm) is a super fused mix of orchestrated noises and dark layers of sound with all the imagery of a feverish nightmare, does it work? I'm uncertain, but then I hardly give it the time to dissect it to be sure. Peace, An End"is more or less where we came in and serves to capture the whole scenario of the album in a story telling mood. In The Wake Of Poseidon would mark the end of this part of King Crimson as Fripp took the band, or the new variation of the band, in a new direction which would only partly follow the adventures contained within the album in hand. This is an interesting album but it never fully opens up like the debut.