Heavy Construkction: the Construkction of Light Tour/Euope 2000 [Box set, Enhanced, Limited Edition, Live, Import]

If all that wasn't enough, CD 2 includes a Window Media Player format video that contains 45 minutes of very good footage of the band's performance in Rome, Italy. Highlights are Larks 4 and an improv leading up to it. Close ups of Robert Fripp's finger work alone make this a must have release. As an added bonus, the unbelieving can see for themselves why flash photography at a King Crimson concert is a no no. The band just doesn't want its audience to do it - 'nuff said!

So if you are looking for a momento of the shows you went to, or just want this because you missed them on tour, either way you shouldn't need to find too many excuses to ask for this as a Christmas present if you can't buy it for yourself. You won't be dissappointed!

Of the three CDs, disc one is easily the most accessible. It starts with three songs from the band's latest studio effort, The ConstruKction of Light. The improv from Munchen features some fierce jamming, before things quiet down for "One Time." "Dinosaur" and "VROOOM" are always great in concert, and these renditions don't disappoint. Sure, it would be better if Bill Bruford was behind the drum kit (Bruford and bassist Tony Levin did not appear on this tour), but Pat Mastelotto does a fine job. The only bad track to be found is "The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum." I never thought I'd hear a Crimson tune with the lyrics "get jiggy with it," but here it is. The improv from Bonn starts off in an ethereal, almost Tomita-like mood, and then descends into a wash of noise--exactly what the Crims are best known for. Disc two pushes the envelope a bit more. It kicks off with an inspired version of "Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream," before the quiet and moody improv from Offenbach comes in. This is one of the better improvs on the three discs and features two solos from bassist Trey Gunn. The centerpiece of the set is the epic "Larks' Tongues in Aspic: Part Four." Definitely not for the faint of heart, this track transcends description. It must be seen to be believed. More on that in just a second...

After "Larks IV," Adrian Belew turns in a solo acoustic version of "Three of a Perfect Pair." The second disc closes with a cover of David Bowie's classic "Heroes." Listen closely and you'll hear a new Crimson reference in the song. As a bonus to fans with a copy of Windows Media Player, disc two includes 45 minutes of video from the band's recent performance in Rome, including "Larks IV" and 6 more songs. If you've never had the chance to witness the band in concert, be sure to check out the video portion of the second disc.

The third disc is made up of an hour of various improvs from throughout the tour. To the novice Crimson listener, this may seem like a strange thing to do, but it actually comes off quite well. "Sapir" begins with an awesome display of bass work by Gunn, which continues throughout the track. "ccccSeizurecc" is one of the best cuts on disc three, incorporating parts of "Into the Frying Pan." You can see this particular improv performed on the video portion of the second disc. "7 Seas" is a dark, brooding piece that leads into the trippy "Tomorrow Never Knew Thela," a strange mix of "Thela Hun Ginjeet" and The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows."

Heavy ConstruKction makes an excellent addition to the ever-expanding catalog of live KC releases. Fripp's guitar work shows an aggressive side that hasn't been seen since the late 70's, and the songs from The ConstruKction of Light (which seemed rather lackluster on the original disc) really come to life in the concert setting. One of the coolest things about King Crimson is the way they continually reinvent themselves, and the lineup documented here is in fine form. If you were put off by the recent box set from The ProjeKcts, you'll be pleasantly surprised when you check out Heavy ConstruKction. It's the most consistent Crimson release since 1995's THRAK.

The first song on disc 1, "Into the frying pan", sticks to the album version but eschews the spacious outro at the end in favor of some guitar pyrotechnics. Next, we have a somewhat lighter and more playful 8 1/2-minute version of the title song from "TCOL". Adrian's weak vocals mars this otherwise blood-flowing tune, but he fully redeems himself with "ProzaKC blues", a song which undoubtedly polarizes KC fans to this day. The live version is a real improvement upon the studio take, coming up with palatable vocals and highlighting the powerful guitar work. The "Improv:" pieces also manage to shine, particularly the 8 1/2-minute "Improv:Munchen". It begins with dark atmospherics, bell-like sounds (obviously inspired by Brian Eno's 1992 album "The Shutov Assembly") and almost danceable rhythms before the band delves into a murky and uncomfortable industrial-metal piece. Surprisingly, this track is followed by a melodic, beautiful counterpoint - "One time", showing that KC still have a sense of romantic, atmospheric songs. The band colors this cut with an exquisite ambient section which bears resemblance to Fripp's evocative "Soundscapes" efforts. Very amusing and musically different from the rest of "HC", this is my favorite song on the first disc. After this, there are two other tracks from the "Thrak" album; "Dinosaur", a concert favorite of the band, and a high-energy version of "VROOOM". "The world's my.." is another interesting track, the last few minutes remind me of Adrian Belew's album "The guitar as orchestra": By imitating the sound of a piano, it's another document of the band's relentless ambitions. The 9 1/2-minute "Improv:Bonn", another piece in the style of "Improv:Munchen", closes the first disc with a thunderous finale.

If you want to know something about the other two discs, feel free to e-mail me so I can send you a detailed review of this three-disc set. ... .

Overall, being a three-disc set, the quality of the performances is certainly variable and there's a large selection to choose from. I think the first disc provides the best songs, including "TCOL", "One time", "VROOOM", and "Improv:Munchen". The second disc offers some interesting alternative versions of "Cage" and "Three of..", but there's a lack of real classics like "Red", "Starless", or "Elephant talk". Compared to the band's '70s and '80s live albums, "HC" seems somewhat unsophisticated and rough, containing music which makes children and most adults hide under their beds. The third disc has a decidedly unfinished and unsettling edge which will primarily appeal to dedicated fans. All in all, it just demonstrates that KC have no problems with creativity, even though the band already exists for more than 30 years.