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Rating: Prologue: A few months ago a friend of mine suggested I listen to this album very carefully, telling me that for a music lover it was indispensable. He was absolutely right.
This record is sublime in all its aspects, and what's more surprising is that it is the first album by King Crimson, the brainchild of the musical genius Robert Fripp (who has always been the undisputed Crimson King). The album was conceived in 1969 in a very peculiar atmosphere dominated by rebellion, sex, groupies, and drugs in abundance.
I would say to start with the cover; when you look at it, it's almost as if you can hear the scream of the schizoid man... it's almost an expressionist depiction worthy of the best expressionists... (The cover is worth the cost)... score 9
The first track 21st Century Schizoid Man is a stunning piece narrating the personality that will be that of the 21st-century schizoid man; it's a prophetic piece considering that in our society, the incidence of diseases such as depression and schizophrenia are on the rise (I study medicine, forgive this digression, it's a matter of mental logical deformation). If you try to listen to this first track with your eyes closed, you can easily imagine the figure of a schizoid man, you can imagine the personality of the schizoid man... the sonic power has a crescendo-decrescendo rhythm characteristic of this type of personality... The opening is therefore lightning-fast, incisive with Lake's filtered voice declaiming Sinfield's apocalyptic text... score 8.5
The album continues with a song I Talk to the Wind, which is the manifesto of peace, tranquility, sweetness... The two flute interludes simulate the wind, Renaissance atmospheres, an ancient flavor. The drastic shift from the man's schizophrenia to the lightness of the wind that caresses us surprises, and this too is the brilliance of King Crimson (and Robert Fripp)... score 8. The third track is perhaps the most well-known song of this debut album "Epitaph." It's an epic, unsettlingly sad song (score 9) and is followed by Moonchild, a very peculiar track... Initially, one perceives a motif that gradually fades away, giving way to a series of short sounds inserted at the right moment... On a first listen, one might think it's a true improvisation; in reality, every sound has a function in the structural logic of the piece... However, silence is often approached. Score 7.5. The album closes with "The Court of The Crimson King", a beautiful song in which Ian McDonald's flute solo undoubtedly stands out. Score 8.
Thus closes the first chapter in the history of King Crimson; the lineups will change numerous times subsequently, the group will produce excellent albums like 'Island' and 'Red' but 'In the Court of the Crimson King' will always remain a microcosm unto itself, a manifesto of Progressive.
MASTERPIECE SCORE 9
LONG LIVE THE CRIMSON KING
Tracklist and Videos
05 The Court of the Crimson King (including The Return of the Fire Witch and The Dance of the Puppets) (09:22)
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Other reviews
By zaireeka
If you want to experience a 1000-year time jump, start this album and let it take you there.
The album can evoke a sinister or 'sick' impression, supported by its apocalyptic tones and striking cover art.
By joe strummer
"21st Century Schizoid Man" remains an epoch-making track, a sharp attack on modernity.
This album will remain in history as an excellent philosopher-musical work.
By paloz
Just the cover alone is terrifying, the face of the man screaming face to face with the future listener is shocking.
ESSENTIAL Album.
By Miki Page
"King Crimson is a group that behaves like an organism. It works on three levels: the head, an intellectual expression; the heart, an emotional expression; and the hips, a physical expression."
"One of the most visible (or audible...) innovations is the use of the mellotron, a kind of proto-synthesizer that electronically reproduces sounds similar to strings and choirs."
By manliuzzo
"With this album, we want you to label us as progressive, because we have the aptitude, but know that we will stand out."
"That epic mellotron at the beginning is kind of a parody, and if you take it away, in a romantic key, you get the future style of the Crimson King, dry."
