EARTHBOUND

This live album captures the best and worst of this incarnation of the band. The version of 21st Century Schizoid Band is my personal favourite - Boz's vocals, distorted by the EMS VCS3 synthesiser, really gets across the power and energy that other versions lack.

Robert's guitar solo is spellbinding, and then the immense sax solo from Mel Collins, preseded by a shout of 'Go on Mel' from Ian or Boz is untouchable.

Finally, the band come back together for the intricate last section and third verse, before finishing off with a frenzy of notes.

The raw sound quality of the recording only adds to the intense edge that this song should always have.

Peoria is a funky blues jam which leads into an edited version of The Sailors Tale.

Earthbound is another improvised track but the last track of Groon, shows the risks that this particular version of Crimson were prepared to take.

I can only imagine what the audience felt when Ian Wallace's drums were electronically distorted by Pete Sinfield's use of the EMS VCS3, but the effect is out of this world.

An inconsistant album, but certainly it should be heard by all Crimson fans, and owned by more.