King Crimson

This Asian import box set boasts more than five hours of live King Crimson gleaned from 1995 and 2001. Originally the contents were issued as three respective "Collectors' Club" installments. Chronologically, the first of which is the complete double-trio lineup show from July 1, 1995 with the six-man incarnation Live At The Wiltern (2005) in Los Angeles. The mid '90s band included the talents of Adrian Belew (guitar/vocals), Bill Bruford (drums/percussion), Robert Fripp (guitar), Trey Gunn (Warr guitar, Tony Levin (bass/Chapman stick/vocals) and Pat Mastelotto (drums/percussion). Following that are highlights from the same personnel over a five-night stand November 20th - 25th, 1995 On Broadway (1999) at the Longacre Theater in New York City. Fast-forward six years and a slimmed-down quartet -- minus Bruford and Levin -- are captured Live In Nashville, TN (2002) November 9th and 10th, 2001 at the 328 Performance Hall in Music City USA. As there is widespread repetition of material from '95, what becomes all the more evident are the variations throughout the improvisations and the subtleties that exist within the evolution of the concerts as a whole. There is a considerably different energy as the Longacre Theater compile erupts right out of the gate with a fast and furious ride upon the '80s Crim classic "Thela Hun Ginjeet". Compare that to Fripp's meditative "Introductory Soundscape" that leads into the modern industrially-informed "VROOOM VROOOM". Unlike the mid '90s band -- who had logged in several months on the road by July of '95 -- the combo heard on Live In Nashville, TN are in their infancy stages of the Level Five North America tour, which took place in November and December of 2001. This distillation of a standard 90 minute gig has familiar fan favorites "Red" and the aforementioned "Thela Hun Ginjeet" juxtaposed beside seminal readings of the edgy instrumentals "Level Five," "eleKtriK" and "Virtuous Circle". These are clear indications of the uncharted musical territory that quickly became the 21st Century Crim's stock and trade. Especially when evaluating the merits of the sleek four-piece unit whose ability to turn on a proverbial dime against that of the '90s half-dozen member mini-orchestra. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide