LIZARD

Lizard is probably the most surprising album King Crimson ever released. Some argue that this record is for die hard crimson fans only, and that it is one of the more difficult crimson albums to get into. I couldn't believe how different I felt when I first heard this album, I loved it from the very first time I heard it, this really is one of the greatest albums the band ever made. The line up for this album has some minor changes from the album beforehand, Including Robert Fripp and Pete Sinfield from original line up, Mel Collins (flute and sax) who played on the previous album, Gordon Haskell (bass and vocals) who also sang on one track on the album beforehand, and newcomer Andy McCulloch on drums, brilliant pianist Kieth Tippet also guests.

Lizard is innovative, brave and extremely ambitious for its day. The album incorporates rock, free jazz, and classical arrangements. The opener "Cirkus" starts quietly with Haskell singing lightly over what sounds like a stringed instrument, but i'm still not quite sure. It is left behind pretty quickly though as one of crimsons loudest and darkest passages takes over, after a few seconds the passage ends for the verse and some may be surprised to hear that fripp is using an acoustic guitar in place of his heavy les paul, he also plays some excellent mellotron on the track and throughout the album. Cirkus is darker and edgier than most of the other songs on the album. The following song "Indoor games" is another excellent song and is in a completely different mood to cirkus, it seems more playful, avant garde noise making and plenty of action from the woodwind section, Fripp adds some excellent acoustic guitar. Haskells voice is perfectly suited to the songs and does a great job, he may not have been crimsons finest but it would seem wrong for anyone else but him to sing on these fine tracks. Two more songs are included on side one, the slightly barmy "Happy family" and the soft, gentle "Lady of the dancing water" , one of the more peaceful tracks from crimson.

Side two contains the epic title track. A lot has already been said about its varying styles and sections and not everyone may enjoy it fully, but it does prove to be a powerful enough track, ambitious and brilliant and one of crimsons finest. For the first section Jon Anderson makes a guest appearance, an excellent way to kick off the track, and probably the easiest part of the album to listen to, Jons voice, as usual, is beautiful and inviting. The song is quite long, reaching over twenty three minutes and has an unusual bolero section in which the woodwind takes over,but to go through it all would take too long, but at times it can be beautiful, dark, jazzy and overall enjoyable to listen to. A great achievement for something released in 1970. This album seems to be gaining more recognition from progressive rock fans, but as i have said before, isn't for everyone, it may be too much for some people which is entirely understandable, as not many people would have heard a band with screaming horn arrangements. None the less it is quite a unique album, It might not have aged as well as other crimson albums, but stunning for its day.

4.5 stars strictly speaking, but I will round it off to 5 as I can't give halves.