THRAKATTAK

Okay, whaddya want? THRaKaTTaK is what it is -- a stitched-together compendium of improvs from a variety of shows, played in concert as improvs from the original "Thrak" instrumental, and here showcased between two different performances of the song.

If you're expecting strong structure and powerfully controlled instrumentals with definite beginnings, middles, and ends, you ain't getting that here. Except for isolated instances, there's little overt structure to be found -- though the musicologists among us will swoon at the various homages to everyone from Schopenhauer to Ives to their own previous recordings that pop up in amongst the sonic barrage. (At least this is what I'm told.)

Basically, there's a lot of noodling on this album, some musically interesting, some little more than six outrageously talented musicians together on stage trying to figure out together what they're playing and where to go from where they're at. It's not an album you play for the maiden aunts, or for anyone who either isn't already a huge KC fan or someone with extremely wide and forgiving musical tastes. It's strictly for the KC mavens. On the flip side, it's extremely good for clearing a room of unwanted guests whose musical tastes are defined by whatever MTV is currently hyping.

If you're a big KC fan who particularly likes the "bleeding edge" of their most outragerous and musically dangerous improvisations, TA is worth laying down the bucks to have. If you're not sure that KC is your kind of band, or if your experience with the band begins and ends with "The Court of the Crimson King," you'd do better to try a more structured offering from the band and try this one after you've gotten into, say, "Thrak" or another studio offering.