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johnny9fingersI never once thought I'd hear this played live:
And certainly not quite this well done. It seems that Master Fripp (for he is a master) finally has the right chamber orchestra to perform the collective compositions he led as prime mover in King Crimson. I'd love to hear the Ravel-influenced opening to "Exiles" done live. I may get a chance on Thursday as I'm due to see King Crimson at the Albert Hall.
The battery of drums in the 13/8 second movement slightly de-emphasises the original "solo leading instrument" aspect of the original, but is effective nonetheless. All-in-all it is a definitive performance; captured on camera as well as audio. Small quibbles: Fripp's guitar is just a little proud of the track at the beginning; and slightly lacking the beautiful reverb of the original. Fripp is running a Kemper for his live rig, if my sources are correct, so a small adjustment shouldn't be too difficult. But by the gods, this iteration of Crimson is really good. Really really good. And this version of Crimson, it appears, can do the compositions justice in a way never before achieved. At the crossover point where Hendrix meets Sibelius and Bartok there is a bespectacled chap, sitting on a bar stool, with a Les Paul; and his is one of a handful of the greatest musical imaginations ever to have picked up a guitar.
