The ConstruKction Of Light

Performer: King Crimson
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: King Crimson: Adrian Belew (vocals, guitar); Robert Fripp (guitar); Trey Gunn (baritone guitar, bass); Pat Mastelotto (drums). Producers: King Crimson, Pat Mastelotto, Bill Munyon. Personnel: Adrian Belew (vocals); Robert Fripp (guitar); Trey Gunn (baritone guitar); Pat Mastelotto (drums). King Crimson, one of the few first-generation progressive rock bands to remain nearly consistent in the quality of their output throughout their career, fall flat with The ConstruKction of Light, the band's 12th studio album. Unable to shed the weight of their oft-brilliant history, the most promising moments of ConstruKction are crushed underneath the bulk. What makes ConstruKction such a disappointment is, despite how "progressive" the band-fragmenting ProjeKct approach appeared on paper, upon execution, it produced an utterly backward-looking album. More self-referential than a Jean-Luc Godard film, nearly every song on ConstruKction contains a heavy-handed nod to a previous Crimson song. There are even two tracks that are directly named after old Crimson material: "FraKctured" and "Larks Tongues in Aspic-Part IV." The most notable shift the pared-down, four-piece Crimson makes with ConstruKction is getting rid of acoustic drums in favor of electronic "V" drums (courtesy of Pat Mastelotto, who took over full-time duties after Bruford left). Crimson does not seem to lose much in the transition, and, overall, the musicianship is superb as usual, but it's almost as if they thought new technology and a stripped down lineup would make up for a dearth of new ideas. Treading water is still treading water, even if the waters happen to be deep. There are, however, two bright spots on the album: "Into the Frying Pan" and "Heaven and Earth." The former features guitarist/vocalist Adrian Belew at his quirky best, and the latter (credited to Project X instead of King Crimson) is a beautifully textured, near-ambient piece that slowly builds intensity before a long, slow release. Together, they suggest that King Crimson may still have some gas left in their tank after all. ~ Jason Nickey After spending time as a sextet, pioneering art rockers King Crimson reconvene as a quartet for THE CONSTRUKCTION OF LIGHT. Noticeably missing from this lineup are longtime drummer Bill Bruford and inventive bassist Tony Levin. However, leader Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn and Pat Mastellotto carry on the Crimson tradition with a set of exploratory works that touches on everything from the blues to mindbending aural flights of fancy. After splintering into its various fractals in the late '90s, this version of Crimson is recharged and eager to explore new ground, evidence of which lies in the amusing "ProzaKc Blues," which finds Belew with a heavily altered vocal, wallowing in despair, though with tongue firmly in cheek. More futuristic textures come with the dynamic title track. The disc's most esoteric cut, the unforgettably titled "The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum," is of special note, a bizarre stream-of-consciousness exploration that's sure to have listeners double-checking the lyric sheet. Finally, there's a bonus track from ProjeKct X, one of the aforementioned Crimson splinter groups, which pushes the limits of sonic manipulation.

Spin (9/00, pp.183-4) - 6 out of 10 - "...When Belew and Fripp commence noodlin', as on the 9-minute title track, there's nothing else like it. In a world of ones and zeroes, it's nice to see some disciplined humanoidism..." Entertainment Weekly (6/16/00, p.91) - "...Founder/ax guru Robert Fripp leads a guitar-trio-plus-drums this time, setting his needlepoint melodies and spasmodic power chordage against shifty drum work, while singer-guitarist Adrian Belew recites smug abstractions..." - Rating: B- Q (7/00, p.119) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Harks back to the template of their finest work, the RED/STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK era....this will delight aficionados with its muscular ensemble playing and unsparing power..." Down Beat (9/00, p.63) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...This group continues to perform with imperious authority and a heavyweight demeanor....melding stately themes with sizzling crunch chords and complex rhythmic structures....an exhilarating cosmic joyride..." Mojo (Publisher) (6/00, p.106) - "...The band proper returns to more familiar territory....there's more going on here musically in 12 bars of Crimson than in some entire albums."

Led by innovative guitarist/conceptualist Robert Fripp, King Crimson went through countless changes in style and personnel. They moved from early symphonic/progressive rock to angular, experimental improv to a mixture of hard rock and fusion before breaking up in the mid-'70s. Revived in the '80s, the group modernized its approach by incorporating Gamelan-like polyrhythms and an almost danceable Talking Heads-influenced sound into their approach. Always the coolest of the art-rockers, Crimson was also one of the most influential of the early-'70s prog crowd.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.5