The classically-inspired sweeping grandeur and controlled cacophony that typified the first two Crimson discs has been here largely (but not entirely) replaced by a sound that has its roots much more deeply embedded in jazz. The third release from Robert Fripp and company sees the band moving in a new and radical direction.
LIZARD is perhaps the most "difficult" of the early King Crimson albums, yet, for that very reason, it is also ultimately one of the most rewarding. Posted Tuesday, Febru| Review this album | Report (Review #14855) So for the second straight album Crimson was unable to tour to promote their album. By the time the album had been released, singer Gordon Haskell, pretending to hate this album, left the band and had returned to his solo career, prompting drummer Andy McCullough to follow suit. Lizard is definitely not easy album to master, but once you will, there is absolutely no doubt you'll find it one of Crimson's best album. Comes a very delicate Bolero (a better version on the 4 cd box-set) that is the only one that does honour to Ravel and then comes the heart of the album - the Battle - savage war-like drumming flying reeds and mellotron layers making it my fave number from Crimson. The first part most everybody knows because of the Yes-man on vocals and is quite fine.
Of course everyone waits for LIZARD and its 23+ min. Lady is another tune in the mould of Cadence or Talk to the Wind. Circus is a fine opener but the Indoor Games is along with Happy Family some of the stranger tunes ever from Crimson. Very few of these tracks were played live and this line-up never toured. so the jazz-tinged prog developed in the present album is of course not easily that accessible.
As with Poseidon, Keith Tippet makes another appearance but this time he brings along the reed players from his own group - Charig, Miller, Evans etc. This is probably the toughest Crimson album to get into (but what a superb artwork), but it is well worth the effort. 24-bit remaster by Robert Fripp & Simon HeyworthĬD Discipline Global Mobile - DGM 0503 (2005, US) Reissue of 2000 Anniv. Nick Evans / trombone Releases informationĪrtwork: Gini Barris with Peter Sinfield (concept)ĬD EG - EGCD 4 (1989, US) Remastered by Robert Fripp & Tony ArnoldĬD Virgin - CDVKCX3 (2000, UK) 30th Anniv. Peter Sinfield / lyrics, VCS3 synth (2,3), co-producer Robert Fripp / guitar, Mellotron (1,2,5), synth & organ (2), electronics, co-producer Cirkus (including Entry Of The Chameleons) (6:28)