Therefore, it should not come as any surprise to you when you hear a wistful flute play a piece that depicts memories of the film ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. As you may have noticed, Crimson is responsible for some very interesting sounds, as well as unique instrumentation and choice, for that matter. The waves of monstrous feedback from Fripp are just another benefiting factor, letting you know what is yet to be heard. Lake, being a multi-talented musician, provides a creamy bassline, as well as an exotic staccato rhythm during the jam session. The combination of various woodwind instruments, mellotron, and distorted guitar carries the eerie ambience, but only before a 3 minute jam between the three. On the subject of dark lyrics, you’ll get the jist of it when you hear Lake’s voice combined with the words ‘Blood rack, barbed wire. Between the heavy guitar riffs and eerie voice of Greg Lake (whom we all know to be the front man of later progressive icons, Emerson, Lake and Palmer), ‘Schizoid’ proves to be a very worthy intro tune.
#KING CRIMSON COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING PLUS#
It’s not exactly easy to pinpoint their music with two words, as their lyrics tend to focus on darker, creepy subjects, but the combination of classical instrumentation, as well as 7-minute plus suites, and interesting percussion, make this one of the most interesting, and well-respected albums of all time.įrom the moment that the very first song, the staple of Crimson’s catalogue, ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’ hits you, you are in for a very intense and provocative listen. But on the contrary to what the band may think, this stunning five song, forty-five minute album is by all means, the true definition of the progressive rock genre. Ironically enough, the band has always denied allegations that they are slapped with the ‘prog’ label. This sole album, as King Crimson’s very first, basically defined the genre of what we call ‘prog rock’. Nearly all aspects of it are creative, whether it be the touches of mellotron added to the melody, or Robert Fripp's blistering guitar solos. Crimson’s music is not to be taken lightly. This face, in many facets, describes the innovation, sound and intensity of this album. I think we all, at one point or another, whether we knew what it was or not, have all seen the screaming face that adorns the cover of ‘In the Court of the Crimson King’. King Crimson- In the Court of the Crimson King