Post #231870 by tiki mick on Sat, May 13, 2006 12:05 PM

I don't know that KC ever experimented with exotica, but defintely with world music in their later new-wave incarnation.

Suprisingly, the court of the crimson king is one that I don't currently own (I have heard it many time though) but I need to go get it soon. The album cover alone is so iconic, and the music is very good if you like Mellotrons!

My favorite album from these guys has to be Starless and Bible black. One album I can't find is "USA", the first live album they ever did. It has the early/mid 70's ensemble with John Wetton, and they cover two songs from the first album, including 21st century schizoid man. The whole band is distorted, except the drums and violin, so the album is very noisy and you can see how they might have been an influence on some industrial bands and so forth.

I have always liked the mystic elements to thier sound, and thier early stuff is especially satisfying, and I hate to admit it, obviously Beatles influenced. Mostly on the album "lizard". But, in my opinion a lot of the prog rock bands seemed to copy each other. Pink Floyd has some stuff that Crimson fans would probably like a lot.

The later day KC though is somewhat dissapointing. I just got "the power to believe" and it seems to me they are still stuck in the same mode they started around "thrak". Of all the newer albums probably "construktion of light" is the most satisfyting, as they sound influenced from thier own later 70's period.

Fripp is an original and interesting guitarist. I like the stuff he has collaborated on other artists work. If anyone didn't recognize him, he's the one playing the buzzsaw guitar on David Bowie's "fashion"!!