- Audio CD (6 Jan 2004)
- Label: Pid
- ASIN: B0009ESY28
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,188,737 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
Already partially unleashed on vinyl earlier this year under the name of Metaphormosis, this timely CD release fills in a sizeable hole in the enigmatic career of the mighty Fripp and pals and their part in the creation of the Crimson King. Mainly consisting of demos recorded at the titular address, this document is amazing for two reasons. Firstly, as the splendid sleeve notes demonstrate, this was far more than a couple of mikes fed into a Revox set-up. The sound quality of these pieces is a testament to the precision of artists forced to work under primitive conditions while developing a profile which their first album (The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles And Fripp) - with it's bland production - failed to deliver. Secondly, with its addition of key players such as Ian MacDonald on wind instruments and Pete Sinfield, this shows how a year of hard work away from the limelight could turn a jokey little trio into a powerful musical unit, ready to take on the post psychedelic music scene.
It is fascinating to finally hear all of the tracks that featured the criminally underrated Judy Dyble, the original vocalist with Fairport Convention. Committed King Crimson fans will already be familiar with her rendition of "I Talk To The Wind", but on the evidence of the other material on offer here, she should have stayed for longer than the mere two or three months it took to record them. "Drop In" by Fripp, which became a Crimson live staple the following year, makes its first appearance here as does a re-versioned "Suite No. 1" which should dispel any notion that the Wimborne wonder was anything less than a young genius of the fretboard.
Lush harmonies, assured, jazzy instrumentation and a sense of humour (check out those Pythonesque photos!), all wrapped up with most scholarly and amusing sleeve notes from Pete Giles. This is both a lovingly prepared historical document and a well-prepared argument in favour of a band who have, for too long, languished in the shadows as a mere precursor to greater things. Why don't you just drop in? --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD is made up of home recordings made by Peter Giles at the joint home of Giles, Giles and Fripp, complete with historical and technical notes.
Ian McDonald plays on 16 of the 21 tracks, adding sax, flute, keyboards and vocals to tunes from 'The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles & Fripp'. Also appearing here are new songs by Peter Giles, Robert Fripp and McDonald/Sinfield. These include two early versions of 'I Talk To The Wind', one of which, with Judy Dyble on lead vocals, appeared on the 'Young Person's Guide To King Crimson'.
The CD takes the playful spirit of the Decca LP made by the band, and expands the musical exploration on it with different instrumentations courtesy Mr. McDonald and jazz leanings. The new songs are mostly just as melodically brilliant as the released ones, and some ideas were revived for future King Crimson albums.
Judy Dyble's vocal contributions invoke the magic of the first Fairport Convention album, which adds to this CD appeal.
The CD represent the evolution from the down to earth joviality that dominates 'The Cheerful Insanity' towards the structured dark themes of 'In The Court Of The Crimson King', and is a must for everyone who likes these two brilliant albums.
Ian McDonald plays on 16 of the 21 tracks, adding sax, flute, keyboards and vocals to tunes from 'The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles & Fripp'. Also appearing here are new songs by Peter Giles, Robert Fripp and McDonald/Sinfield. These include two early versions of 'I Talk To The Wind', one of which, with Judy Dyble on lead vocals, appeared on the 'Young Person's Guide To King Crimson'.
The CD takes the playful spirit of the Decca LP made by the band, and expands the musical exploration on it with different instrumentations courtesy Mr. McDonald and jazz leanings. The new songs are mostly just as melodically brilliant as the released ones, and some ideas were revived for future King Crimson albums.
Judy Dyble's vocal contributions invoke the magic of the first Fairport Convention album, which adds to this CD appeal.
The CD represent the evolution from the down to earth joviality that dominates 'The Cheerful Insanity' towards the structured dark themes of 'In The Court Of The Crimson King', and is a must for everyone who likes these two brilliant albums.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you're a Crimso nut since In the Court of the Crimson King, this CD is an essential for your library.
Ian MacDonald and Mike Giles feature strongly as does the crystal voice of Judy Dyble (the original Fairports singer). There'a an altogether more folky/jazzy feel than most later KC work and you get a sense of where they might have gone if they'd kept Ian MacDonald. Would a female singer have worked on "The rusted chains of prison moons"? Perhaps not.
As the booklet with the CD explains at incomprehensible length, the recording was a triumph of skill over very limited taping technology.
What's best about it all? The tightness and technical skill of the players; the wide range of experimentation which gives you hints of everything that followed; the occasionally camp humour ("Why don't you just drop dead?"); and the drumming of Mike Giles which was then and remains a lesson in technique for mindless rock kit bashers. Listen to how much space he leaves. Listen.
Nary a sign of a mellotron though. Useless knowledge dept:- Did you know that a mellotron weighs about 140kg and KC had three of them on the road at one stage?
Gripes: one really fuzzy track. 2 versions of "I talk to the Wind" is a bit of overkill. But they do show what Greg Lake added.
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