THE CONSTRUKCTION OF LIGHT

To my ears, this album was a return to form for King Crimson, a completion of the return to heaviness begun with VROOOM and Thrak by the double-trio KC lineup. Gone are the layered finger exercises and light Belew ballads. In their place are dark complex compositions, and weirdly compelling odd vocal pieces, with mostly good (but a few times awkward) lyrics.

ProzaKc Blues may be a throwaway comedy song, but the heavy off-time blues licks make it quite compelling.

The ConstruKction of Light has some goofy lyrics, but the amazing stick work of Trey Gunn, and intricate interplay by the entire band makes this a wonderful piece.

Into The Frying Pan, a Belew led vocal song, is anything but a pop piece, with a snake- like melody over a heavy rhythm section. And The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum, with it's word association lyrics is just cool.

FraKctured and Larks' Tongues In Aspic - Part IV are worthy successors to the seventies pieces they are based on. They are both in the vein of the original Wetton/Cross/Bruford/Fripp songs.

Coda brings the main portion of the album to a close. The music is good, but the lyrics are a bit facile.

The preview of ProjeKct X, Heaven And Earth is a good way to wind down after the mind blowing greatness of the first ten tracks.

This is the first KC album that bowled me over since the seventies. I was completely not expecting that when it came out.