STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

Starless and Bible Black, not to be confused with the song that contains the phrase on the universally acclaimed Red, is a rather uncompromising album in the King's discography. An album of strain-till-you-can-hear quiet and abstract noise, it actually begins with with quite a frenzy on the (aptly named) The Great Deceiver, which also throws out a rather infamous jape at the start (and in retrospect, not as well worded as Fripp my have intended.) It then moves into a sad sounding song in which The Fripp laments, perhaps cynically, about about "Blues kids playing his licks" before descending into a fury of intense, but purposeful noise as only King Crimson could create at their prime. Then, abruptly, the album virtually takes itself of the turntable/CD player/whatever the case may be, and replaces itself with a completely different album.

The rest is a truly one-of-a-kind album full of weird sounds, abstract beeps and boops, and crashes that sound like they could belong on a complex, electro Autechre album (a weird impression I had) and often goes into totally alien sound territory, then comes back with a jazz/funk or classical sound before phasing out into space again.

The main complaint the gets levied here, is that the rest is both seemingly unmusical at times, and somewhat indiscernible from itself. While both statements are true, I don't see it as a problem. The album both explores strange new sound territory, and manages to be one of those albums of which there was nothing like at the time, and still remains one of the strangest, most unique things you are likely to hear anywhere. It is not, however, for the listener who relies on a good amount of, uh, recognizable song structure as well as vocals in their music. But for those who dare to visit a dark and beautiful sonic world unlike their own, it hits a sweet spot.