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King Crimson - THRaKaTTaK
| Artist: | King Crimson |
| Title: | THRaKaTTaK |
| Label: | Discipline Global Mobile DGM9604 |
| Length(s): | 57 minutes |
| Year(s) of release: | 1996 |
| Month of review: | 06/1996 |
Line up
Robert Fripp - guitar, soundscapes
Adrian Belew - guitar
Trey Gunn - warr guitar
Tony Levin - electric upright bass
Pat Mastelotto - acoustic and electronic percussions
Bill Bruford - acoustic & electronic percussions and marimba
Tracks
| 1) | THRAK | 2.20
|
| 2) | Fearless And Highly THRaKked | 6.36
|
| 3) | Mother Hold The Candle Steady |
|
| | While I Shave The Chicken's Lip | 11.19
|
| 4) | THRaKaTTaK Part I | 3.42
|
| 5) | The Slaughter Of The Innocents | 8.04
|
| 6) | This Night Wounds Time | 11.16
|
| 7) | THRaKaTTaK Part II | 11.08
|
| 8) | THRAK Reprise | 2.52
|
Small poster included in this digipack (giving more rise to controversy
than the music, which is quite something). All of you shut up and let them
package the things as they like. I really must be annoyed there, because
basically I'm a very subdued kind of guy, really friendly as long as
everything works out right.
Summary
Well, you might have guessed by now. After releasing something as great
as the Great Deceiver, one implicitly force yourself to do something
similar for new music (Hmm, don't think Robert (or should I say Mr. Fripp)
would agree with me here). Picture myself, being still a little sore over
not getting to interview them, I might give you a depressing view of this
latest release, which makes it the fourth of the line-up and all basically
around the same studio album Thrak (I kind Vrooom too, because some music was
redone etc.). So after the official boot B'Boom we have another one here but
with solely (well not exactly maybe) improvisational stuff.
The music
contains both THRAK and THRAK reprise being very heavy and also
very good. This is really so excellent that what might come in between is
destined not be up to par with it. And I'm afraid it isn't. Most of the
stuff on this album is, not pleasant, but good to listen to. The soundscapes
are nice and always seem to strike the right chord, while the guitars,
the drumming, the percussion and everything else, go from one end
of the spectrum to the other. At one point in time they are heavy, at the other
they are subtle and relaxed. What can one dsay about anything such as this,
than that one has to be neurotic to like it (which means I'm neurotic)
and that it will make your parents/girlfriend/boyfriend/pets leave the house,
or if in number larger than you, kick you out. There are many ways to clear
a room after a party, and THRaKaTTak is simply one of them. But then again,
it's not one of those scare'em away discs that you put right after your
visitors have left. If you want to listen to music that is so free of structure
and STILL manages to evoke feelings of despair, and other emotions (most
of them in the more unpleasant areas) than you have to be good. But there's
no need for me to tell you that.
Conclusion
Funny then that the most structured track is my favourite one.
© Jurriaan Hage