Crimson's second album is cast very much in the same mold as its predecessor, but it expands upon the ground broken by the debut. The contrast between soft, lyrical ballads and frenetic sonic barrages is even more pronounced, the dynamics shifts even more extreme. As on IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING, there are extended cuts comprising several discrete sections. An important development is Fripp's increased (and increasingly sophisticated) use of the mellotron as its own instrument rather than an orchestra substitute, as seen on the album's several ominous instrumental pieces.
"Pictures of a City" seems meant to pick up where "20th Century Schizoid Man" left off, with it's furious ensemble passages, knotty Fripp guitar leads and Greg Lake's authoritative vocal. "Cadence and Cascade" helps fill out the ballad quotient with a beautiful, wispy vocal from transitional singer Gordon Haskell. A valuable note of humor is interjected into the proceedings via the jokey, off-handedly jazzy "Cat Food." Keith Tippet's piano and Mel Collins' sax--both soon to play larger roles--were introduced on POSEIDON as well.
King Crimson: Greg Lake, Gordon Haskell (vocals); Robert Fripp (guitar, Mellotron); Mel Collins (flute, saxophone); Keith Tippet (piano); Peter Giles (bass); Michael Giles (drums).
Product Description
200 gram vinyl.
King Crimson spent 1970 as a studio band recording a single 'Catfood' & two albums - 'In the Wake of Poseido' & 'Lizard'. 'Catfood' was released in March, earning the band an appearance on British BBC TV flagship music show 'Top of the Pops'. 'Poseidon' followed in May. While McDonald & Giles had announced their intention to leave in December 1969 & Greg Lake would depart in April 1970, Giles & Lake appeared on the single & album with Peter Giles (formerly of Giles, Giles & Fripp) & incoming members Keith Tippett, Mel Collins & Gordon Haskell - alongside Fripp & Sinfield. As a result, the album shares some similarities in approach & sound to their debut 'In the Court of the Crimson King' & has been a firm favourite among fans of the band since its initial release.
Though working with a transitional lineup the album sounds remarkably cohesive. Like the debut album 'Poseidon' was self produced & displayed an increased confidence in the use of the recording studio. The breadth of material recorded is even broader than the debut. The short 'Peace' appears in 3 different settings bookending the album's longer tracks. One of the band's prettiest ballads 'Cadence & Cascade' leads into the powerful title track, while the album version of 'Catfood' is followed by 'The Devils Triangle' an ambitious sound collage that seems to owe more to contemporary classical & free jazz roots than any form of rock music. The short burst of 'In the Court of the Crimson King' in the final part of the track eerily anticipates modern sampling techniques.
Upon release, 'Poseidon' reached No. 4 in the UK album chart - one position higher than their debut, & the highest chart placing the band enjoyed in Britain.
Robert Fripp: guitar, mellotron & devices
Greg Lake: vocals
Michael Giles: drums
Peter Giles: bass
Keith Tippett: piano
Mel Colins: saxes & flute
Gordon Haskell: vocal
Peter Sinfield: words
Bonus Material
Codes for MP3 downloads of the original transfer the 1970 pressing.
Review
King Crimson opened 1970 scarcely in existence as a band, having lost two key members (Ian McDonald and Michael Giles), with a third (Greg Lake) about to leave. Their second album -- largely composed of Robert Fripp's songwriting and material salvaged from their stage repertory ('Pictures of a City' and 'The Devils Triangle') -- is actually better produced and better sounding than their first. Surprisingly, Fripp's guitar is not the dominant instrument here: The Mellotron, taken over by Fripp after McDonald's departure -- and played even better than before -- still remains the band's signature. The record doesn't tread enough new ground to precisely rival In the Court of the Crimson King. Fripp, however, has made an impressive show of transmuting material that worked on stage ('Mars' aka 'The Devil's Triangle') into viable studio creations, and 'Cadence and Cascade' may be the prettiest song the group ever cut. 'The Devil's Triangle', which is essentially an unauthorized adaptation of 'Mars, Bringer of War' from Gustav Holst's The Planets, was later used in an eerie Bermuda Triangle documentary of the same name. --Allmusic.com
- Format: Vinyl
- Genre: Rock
- Remastered from original stereo master tapes
- Heavyweight, 200 Gram
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Tracklist
» Peace - A Beginning
» Pictures Of A City (Including 42nd At Treadmill)
» Cadence And Cascade
» In The Wake Of Poseidon (Including Libra's Theme)
» Cat Food
» The Devil's Triangle
» Merday Morn
» Hand Of Sceiron
» Garden Of Worm
» Peace - An End
