Search - King Crimson :: Great Deceiver 2

Great live improvisational rock music

grew up in the 1960s | usa | 01/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i was not a fan of KING CRIMSON until recently. i had no idea they could play like this. these two GREAT DECEIVER CDS (vol. 1 and 2) are a fantastic revelation for me. i had to play the cds a couple of times before the music began to kick in but now they remind me of TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME and MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA a little bit. but ROCK based not JAZZ. KING CRIMSON'S mastermind and great guitarist ROBERT FRIPP is an underrated genius. i can't believe such great, powerful, experimental music is not better known. maybe with the release of these two great cds that will be rectified. i've been playing them non-stop. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

One of the best Live sets ever

Richard E. Johnson | Jacksonville, FL United States | 01/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"King Crimson gets lumped in with other progressive rock bands of the 70s and while there are some similarities, there is also one huge difference. With ELP, Yes, Genesis and even Jethro Tull, you have bands playing arranged music the same every night, with only a keyboard or guitar solo different. King Crimson, on the other hand, uses the songs as a jumping off point into improvisation as this document shows. They are like the European version of the early Allman Brothers Band. Both bands took their country's ethnic music and mixed it up with a jazz ethos and allowed the music to expand itself live. And unlike a 'jam band', the improvisations always had form, structure and a collective sense of purpose. No 20 minute open ended guitar solos over a shuffle. No loss of form or tune, like in many bebop improvs. This is bunch of intelligent people with huge ears creating beauty.



This version of Crimson played like a freight train barreling down the tracks with a take no prisoners attitude. John Wetton has been more popular, but never better. Bill Bruford is as powerful as any metal drummer without constantly beating the listener over the head. Robert Fripp is classic and David Cross provides the shading that is needed to fill out the sound.



Highly recommended.

"

The Great Deceiver Volume 2

Joseph C. Helton | 09/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you fortunate enough to have heard TGD Volume 1, I am glad to say that the high quality of performance and musicianship continues with Volume 2. Plus, the fan gets the extra added bonus of 9 improvizations!



On disc 1, the highlights are "The Great Deceiver", for me, the first time I've heard this track performed live. KC is in good form on this night in 1974, as they brilliantly play this piece before moving into the first of the improvs. Trying to describe any of the improvs is like trying to describe the color blue to a blind person, you just have to experience this for yourself. I'm very impressed with Wetton/Bruford/Cross/Fripp and their ability to seemingly effortlessly lay down a completely improvised piece of music in front of a live audience, and create something that grabs the listener. Real talent here and the hallmark of the Wetton era. Anyways, "Night Watch", "Doctor Diamond", and "Starless" are all played with the kind of high energy you should expect from Crimso as well as the classic tracks "The Talking Drum", and the phenomenal "Lark's Tongues in Aspic: Part Two". Fripp (definitely not comfortable in the role of frontman for such a talented group) makes light chit-chat with the crowd before the disc ends in a brilliant improv "Is there life out there?", clocking in at 14+ minutes.



The second disc continues the improv adventure before going into another rendition of "Night Watch" followed by "Fracture" There are several more improvs on this cd, and the whole volume concludes with the second rendition of "The Talking Drum". Fripp actually explains why the two versions of TD in the liner notes, something that he didn't do, but was understood with the 3 versions of "Easy Money" on volume 1.



Anyways, this is outstanding music, great performances from a historic quartet, and highly representative of what makes King Crimson so dynamic and vital as a prog rock act. 5 seriously big stars.

"