Live in Central Park, NYC '74

AMG Review of Live in Central Park, NYC '74

Lindsay Planer
All Music Guide

This Collectors' Club volume contains the final King Crimson performance of the '70s quartet. While the recording is very good -- not great -- the group's spirited musical antics more than make up for any lack of audio fidelity. With the notable exception of "21st Century Schizoid Man," the band draws primarily from material on the Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red albums for this set. This band could be likened unto a single polyrhythmic organism -- their sound is that together. However, true to the nature of King Crimson, it is the individualistic styles of the members that provide the real musical bond here. Nowhere is this more evident than right out of the gate with "21st Century Schizoid Man." There is a rare synergy among this particular union of musicians. It lies in the sheer terror heard spewing from David Cross's violin and in the sadistic pleasure of Robert Fripp's incendiary guitar solos. That same relentless vibe controls the rhythm section as well. Percussionist Bill Bruford and bassist John Wetton carve new dimensions into "Exiles" and "Fracture," mutually propelling the grooves and increasing the overall fury of the set. The edgy resonance of the band's performance culminates in an epic "Starless" where nothing is held back from the musicians. There is an overwhelming sense of catharsis during the piece -- as if to foreshadow the band's demise. The instrumental jam that closes the song ranks among the finest ensemble work to be created under the King Crimson moniker. Fripp's unique perspectives of this show are in his "Notes From the Guitar Stool" liner notes essay. Potential consumers should be aware that the D.G.M. discs contain more music than the pricey Japanese imports on the Pony Canyon label. Additional information on the King Crimson Collector's Club is available online at www.disciplineglobalmobile.com/club/outline.shtml.