Live In Guildford (November 13, 1972 )

Like many people who would read a review of an exhumed, obscure King Crimson show, I am a big fan of this ever-changing band, and all of its incarnations ... though I do have a bias toward Michael Giles's tasteful, gorgeously emotive drumming, and the Wetton/Bruford rhythm section, and the expansive mellotron, violin, and brass epics of the 60s and 70s (my favorite KC tunes include Wake of Poseidon, Epitaph, Fallen Angel, The Letters, Fracture, Larks Tongues in Aspic Part II, Starless, and Islands).At present, I've purchased no less than a dozen live albums by this band--from various eras---and in some cases found excellent, well-recorded versions of songs I already knew (Live in Asbury Park is a sterling example of this, as is Ladies of the Road---both are highly recommended). These recordings sparkle with embellishments and (in the case of tunes like Lament, Exiles, and Cirkus) additional living fire. Yet still ... I am hoping for something more than strong variations of music with which I am familiar when I buy these albums---I am hoping for some NEW music with which I am unfamiliar. I should also point out that I have mixed feelings about the purely improvised pieces that the various iterations of KC have recorded---often, I feel that the ratio of desultory wandering to inspired coherence isn't great. Sure, for two or three of its ten minutes an improvised number like "Asbury Park" coheres into something memorable, but not for most of its duration to my ears.So with this admitted bias, I was floored when I heard this album, Live in Guildford 1972. The sound quality here is flat---there is little depth and no dynamic other than one instrument blocking out another on occasion, but the 25 minute improvisation on this record entitled "All that Glitters is Not Nail Polish" is powerful, memorable, formidable, exhilarating, menacing, and inspiring. The version of Larks Tongues in Aspic Part I is good, and the other tunes aren't all there, but with this recording I finally found what I'd hope to find by buying numerous live releases from this band: some very good King Crimson music that exists nowhere else. For those on a similar quest, this lo-fi release delivers some real platinum.Ladies of the Road and Live in Asbury Park are great live albums that feature energetic elaborations of familiar material, but Live in Guildford is essentially a new album born in the maelstrom of interstellar Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Muir, and Cross improvisation. Bravo gents. I'll gladly buy a dozen more live releases to find another gem like this...(An aside: The Bremen show provides the second best lengthy improvisation I've heard by KC--that one is 28 minutes--though it peaks in its first half, whereas the one on Guildford builds up and grows and gets more engaging throughout. And Improv: Cerberus on Central Park 1974 is 8 minutes of sharp platinum...)

I would really want to give this a 5 star review because the music is so awesome but I have to be clear that it isn't a perfect quality recording. If you are reading this it is because you are a fan of this line up and for that I just say get it!!! This is an Early show including Jamie Muir on Percussion and all sorts so the rarity of the line-up addds a different dimention to this group. Unfortunaely Exiles is a mere snippit as are the last 2 tracks but the Improve All that Glitters is UnbelievavbleThe Power and Fury unleashed is about how I would sum this remarkable display of a classic band of stellar musicians.

excelent

Wow, this really shows Crimson at their improvisational best, once you get past the rather weak recording quality. The style of music here could at times almost fall under jazz/rock fusion. The complexity of drum and guitar work here is intense. At other times, their epic tunes have moments of early Pink Floyd abtractness in which varying degrees of chaos precede beauty and form.It's loose but solid, i.e. the band is in good form and recorded at a time when you really couldn't expect better from progressive rock. Unfortunately, the sound quality of the CD also reflects the time in which it was (presumably) bootlegged. On the liner notes the recording engineer is simply listed as "Unknown". Having said that, sound quality is slightly better on some places than others. Mostly though you can expect a rather thin sounding recording that won't hold up at loud volumes. Who knows what this concert was originally recorded on. It'll give you the essence of the performance but don't expect HDCD quality. The last track on the CD seems to cut off long before being finished. In spite of this, the 4 songs here are all good songs and get better with further listenings. The CD clocks in around 43 minutes.1 Larks Tongues in Aspic (Part 1). Complex rhythms, semi-atonal guitar and violin duel it out amidst varying tempos that vascilate between Hall of the Crimson King and say something off Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew". Around 9 minutes before segueing softly into...2 Book Of Saturday (Daily Games). Here things go peaceful and mellow with a thoughtful and melodic vocal ballad, repleat with the occasional chirping meadow birds in the background. Put me in mind of "Ummagumma" a little. Around 3 minutes.3 Improv : All That Glitters Is Not Nail Polish. A great instrumental jam clocking in around 26 minutes, though the recording surely lacks the polish, just going to prove all that glitters is not polished.4 Exiles - A pleasant song with some vocals that vacilates in the first half from an orchestral flow which suddenly cuts off into a loose jazz rock beat which lasts another minute and then cuts off suddenly - total duration around 3 and a half minutes. Perhaps the guys tape recorder ran out of batteries.Obviously this one's for collectors.

By chance, I've got the Japanese version of this amazing CD in HQCD format. As always, the Japanese sound re-production is much improved and better. Besides of the original four songs, it also contents two more songs of: Exiles (2:55) and Improv: A Deniable Bloodline (0:44) as bonus. Lucky me!

1) Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part 1)2) Book Of Saturday (Daily Games)3) Improv: All That Glitters Is Not Nail Polish4) Exiles

Dissapointing recording with most of the songs played at that gig missed out. The sound quality was poor and at times unlistenable. This disc has already been given to my local charity shop!

good quality and service

the band is in fine form! No music being played like this these days! Sound in just Ok

Adoro i king Crimson, ma questa è davvero puramente un azione commerciale e mi delude molto che Fripp l'abbia concessa. D'accordo che si tratta di concerti di parecchi anni fa, ma la qualità audio è scarsissima, i pezzi sono brutalmente tagliati e una traccia è completamente senza senso. Non ci siamo proprio. sconsigliato anche ai fans piu' accaniti. Della stessa collana esistono parecchi altri titoli. mi riservero' di ascoltarne altri, ma se tanto mi da tanto...

キングクリムゾンのライヴ盤。1972年度といえば中期の一番いい時と思い購入した。代表曲の太陽の戦慄から、入る。目玉は３曲目のImprov２５分に及ぶ。オリジナルでは聴いたことなかったが、彼ららしい演奏。４曲目のエグザイルは最後がカットが残念。名曲だけに尻切れとんぼの感が否めない。全体的にCDの作品としては内容はよかったが、ボリューム的には乏しく感じられた。2000円前後のプライスではこんなもんかな。音質的にもまずまず満足できるものでした。