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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. A Scarcity of Miracles | |||
| 2. The Price We Pay | |||
| 3. Secrets | |||
| 4. This House | |||
| 5. The Other Man | |||
| 6. The Light of Day | |||
| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. A Scarcity of Miracles | |||
| 2. The Price We Pay | |||
| 3. Secrets | |||
| 4. This House | |||
| 5. The Other Man | |||
| 6. The Light of Day | |||
| 7. A Scarcity of Miracles | |||
| 8. The Price We Pay | |||
| 9. Secrets | |||
| 10. This House | |||
See all 21 tracks on this disc
| |||
Product Description
Review
With King Crimson on hold since their live reunion of 2008, this instalment of the ProjeKct series – in which members break down into smaller research and development units – has caused surprise in some circles by proving to be an album of finely crafted, mid-paced songs rather than the fast-moving, genre-blurring instrumentals that characterised previous outings.
Yet the ProjeKct experiments weren’t ever about a single given style, but more to do with evolving beyond a creative impasse. The catalysing force this time is guitarist/vocalist Jakko Jakszyk (the only non-Crimson member present here), whose extrapolations of the initial improvised guitar duets with Fripp into ornate full-scale songs is a stunning achievement.
Whilst Fripp is hailed for his acerbic, angular playing whether with King Crimson or via his ‘wild card’ appearances with Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Brian Eno et al, there’s always been a yearning streak in his work which he gives full rein throughout. His clean and sparse lines carve a heartbreaking melodicism and aching melancholy on the title-track and undulating waves of The Price We Pay. As ever, Fripp’s incisive fretwork is devastating.
Mel Collins, playing with Fripp for the first time since 1974’s Red, was always every bit the equal of the feted guitarist. Here he focuses on concise but telling sax commentaries rather than any obvious soloing. Across the rumbling grooves of Secrets, he turns in mocking soliloquies and some spectacular soaring choruses that nag and push at the prowling gravity of bassist Tony Levin and drummer Gavin Harrison.
The sombre mood hanging over the album is matched by a terse sense of restraint which only breaks cover for the explosive paranoia of The Other Man and the discursive atonalities of The Light of Day which closes the album. An especially bleak Fripp/Jakszyk improvisation is disconsolately adorned by multi-tracked voices and gouging scrawls of acidic sax. It’s dark and powerful stuff.
A Scarcity of Miracles is a branching of the Crimson family tree with the co-option of an external member, and as unprecedented as it is unexpected. Whether it continues to grow further is anyone’s guess. On the basis of what’s here, let’s hope it does.
--Sid Smith
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Glenn
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
No angular instrumental bludgeoning here, just pleasant and harmonious songs led for this project by vocalist and guitarist Jakko Jakszyk, technically the outsider. That's really all that needs to be said: if you're looking for spasmodic schizoid sounds you've sought the wrong austere hospital as this is a recuperation spa of gentle rest and relaxation.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Phil On
This is indeed a good addition to any KC collection, but this said, it is a bit soft to be carrying KC's name, and this is maybe why it doesn't.
KC's music is always very sharp and somehow aggressive and disturbing, this leans more towards softer jazz impros with the usual ethereal Fripp sound and hypnotic bass lines.
The drumming is fine but doesn't sparkle. Neither does Collins whose playing is in good harmony with the rest and adds another range of sounds, but that's about it.
As for the singing, it reminds me more of the work of David Sylvian has put together with Fripp...Same kind of tone and mood.
Overall a good album, pleasant, and imho more relevant than the last two KC releases (Power to believe and construktion of light) which didn't bring anything new to the KC's catalogue.
It just lacks a bit of oomph...
KC's music is always very sharp and somehow aggressive and disturbing, this leans more towards softer jazz impros with the usual ethereal Fripp sound and hypnotic bass lines.
The drumming is fine but doesn't sparkle. Neither does Collins whose playing is in good harmony with the rest and adds another range of sounds, but that's about it.
As for the singing, it reminds me more of the work of David Sylvian has put together with Fripp...Same kind of tone and mood.
Overall a good album, pleasant, and imho more relevant than the last two KC releases (Power to believe and construktion of light) which didn't bring anything new to the KC's catalogue.
It just lacks a bit of oomph...
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
This projekct started as a jamming session between two guitar players who have become good friends Jakko Jakszyk (21st century Band) and Robert Fripp (King Crimson). The recordings were then taken away by Jakko and Mel Collins (King Crimson, 21st Century Band) added his magic touches with saxophone and flute. Jakko then shuffled the arrangement and it was decided that to other ex King crimson Alumni would add their magic touches so Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison but a groove behind the jams.
Given the convoluted evolution of this project and give that all but Jakko have been members of King Crimson you would be forgiven for thinking that this would is a new `Crimson' album, however, it's not a Crimson album but is has been given the `projekct' monicor. It does not really sound like a `Crimson' or 'Projekct' album though. This is a fascinating album of groove/ frippertonics almost jazz inspired tunes given life and words by the Jakko, and could almost be a Jakko solo album but for the star studded cast, and the roots in the DGM HQ jams. Favourites on the album are `The Other Man' the closest song to Fripp cutting loose, and the closing song `The light of Day'.
Of interest to audiophiles is the accompanying DVD with not just 5.1 surround mixes of the album bringing extra air and life to the album Jakko is starting to compete with Steven Wilson for the prize of best surround mixer. You get 96/24 MLP stereo mixes of the album and for those without a DVD Audio player 48/24 PCM and DTS 5.1 Mixes of the album. Also on the DVD is an albums worth of alternate mixes and even more fascinatingly two of the Improvisations which inspired the whole project and finally a video to accompany the title track.... Read more ›
Given the convoluted evolution of this project and give that all but Jakko have been members of King Crimson you would be forgiven for thinking that this would is a new `Crimson' album, however, it's not a Crimson album but is has been given the `projekct' monicor. It does not really sound like a `Crimson' or 'Projekct' album though. This is a fascinating album of groove/ frippertonics almost jazz inspired tunes given life and words by the Jakko, and could almost be a Jakko solo album but for the star studded cast, and the roots in the DGM HQ jams. Favourites on the album are `The Other Man' the closest song to Fripp cutting loose, and the closing song `The light of Day'.
Of interest to audiophiles is the accompanying DVD with not just 5.1 surround mixes of the album bringing extra air and life to the album Jakko is starting to compete with Steven Wilson for the prize of best surround mixer. You get 96/24 MLP stereo mixes of the album and for those without a DVD Audio player 48/24 PCM and DTS 5.1 Mixes of the album. Also on the DVD is an albums worth of alternate mixes and even more fascinatingly two of the Improvisations which inspired the whole project and finally a video to accompany the title track.... Read more ›
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Frippoid
WOW indeed, what a beautiful album. Anyone looking at this probably knows some KC history and therefore doesn't need to be bored with the details, so lets just talk about the album.
This is the most chilled album outside Fripp's soundscapes albums, the 5.1 even has two beautiful soundscape improve tracks on it (instrumentals of two of the album tracks) that end the album wonderfully.
This is a jazz album no question. How anyone can call this dull I just don't know, open your hears and mind.
On first listen this is a very different album to any other under the KC moniker, the nearest to this in feel would maybe be Islands. The Guitar and soundscapes are really very beautiful but not too nice, Fripp knows how to do it just right of centre. Jakko's vocals suit the album perfectly although I could also imagine Belew singing these lines.
Musically this is all KC typical ballarding but unlike one off tracks on very heavy albums there is enough interest here to keep you coming back for more.
The real star here is not Fripp though (although he is as good as ever) or Jakko. The floor really belongs to Mel Collins whose Sax playing is as good as anything on his previous outings including KC, Camel, No-Man and Jakko.
After the first four wonderful jazz influenced chill tracks comes the nearest thing to later day KC, The Other Man, a bit more off beat with Collins blowing free and just when you thought there was going to be no repetitive guitar taping here it comes but you are fooled, the track stops and the brilliant ambience of The Light of Day starts. They save the best till last.
Tony Levin is wonderful on this album, he really is the best Bass player in the world.... Read more ›
This is the most chilled album outside Fripp's soundscapes albums, the 5.1 even has two beautiful soundscape improve tracks on it (instrumentals of two of the album tracks) that end the album wonderfully.
This is a jazz album no question. How anyone can call this dull I just don't know, open your hears and mind.
On first listen this is a very different album to any other under the KC moniker, the nearest to this in feel would maybe be Islands. The Guitar and soundscapes are really very beautiful but not too nice, Fripp knows how to do it just right of centre. Jakko's vocals suit the album perfectly although I could also imagine Belew singing these lines.
Musically this is all KC typical ballarding but unlike one off tracks on very heavy albums there is enough interest here to keep you coming back for more.
The real star here is not Fripp though (although he is as good as ever) or Jakko. The floor really belongs to Mel Collins whose Sax playing is as good as anything on his previous outings including KC, Camel, No-Man and Jakko.
After the first four wonderful jazz influenced chill tracks comes the nearest thing to later day KC, The Other Man, a bit more off beat with Collins blowing free and just when you thought there was going to be no repetitive guitar taping here it comes but you are fooled, the track stops and the brilliant ambience of The Light of Day starts. They save the best till last.
Tony Levin is wonderful on this album, he really is the best Bass player in the world.... Read more ›
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Andy Bott
Since The Bruised Roamntic Glee Club, I hav been waiting to see what Jakko does next. That was a sublme 2 CD work, taking in both then and now. Crimso fans (like me)could do worse than check it out. To my delight, he returns with Fripp, Collins & Harrison, along with the sublime Levin. This new collection is amazing on 5.1, and whilst not angular and fractious like classic Crimson, it recognises that pedigree whilst not calling it King Crimson, thereby acknowledging the difference. There is no doubt they can pull off a Crimson set, but this is more soundscapes and laid back. But don't relax too much, it has a subtle edge. The title track has a gorgeous rhythm, and Levins deep bass and Chapman stick really tested my subwoofer. Not for those who want "Red" again, but does meld with Islands for a touch of melancholy and bliss....Deserves to get a few listens before judgement. Nice start lads, what will happen next?
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Scarcity of Miracles
Aptly entitled 'A Scarcity of Miracles' finds Robert Fripp coasting through a pleasant jaunt of fairly aimless noodling along side musicians of far less stature. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Roger Gregg
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rubbish.....
What a load of rubbish and a complete waste of my money. Fripp talks about it having the Crimson gene; It must be recessive.
Published 15 months ago by Billybobs
3.0 out of 5 stars
Light on Fripp
I know that the first name on the list here is Jakko Jakszyk not Robert Fripp, but the subtitle "A King Crimson ProjeKct" is more than a little misleading. Read more
Published 15 months ago by mondo
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too jazzy and not at all Kcrimson. Avoid!
I was excited to see some new stuff coming out. But this is awful. The lyrics are all sub-floyd middle-aged whingeing and there is some eejit noodling all over it with a horrible... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ali Clix
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I was looking forward to hearing this CD - something from the King Crimson stable had to be good? Well actually it seems not. Read more
Published 23 months ago by KOS
3.0 out of 5 stars
king crimson beginners
For those who don't yet know King Crimson. You may try this CD and then You should buy the older Cd's.
Published 23 months ago by Francisco Fidalgo
5.0 out of 5 stars
21st Century Crimson Band
Well, here we are in 2011 and given a real treat. I bought my first KC album the day it was released in 1969...and just about hung out for further releases. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Peter Munson
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Earl of Crimson
Related to King Crimson but different, but then nobody in their right mind would say anything different about any of the other ProjeKct bands. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Numinous Ugo
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Red 2
The 21st century kc catalogue is uneven let's be honest. This is a "No man" alike album with RF very restrained and Mel C a bit cocktail barish. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Partial Mind
1.0 out of 5 stars
Boring boring boring
This is about the most boring record I bought since years and the sooner it goes out of my collection the better. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2011 by michael raes
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