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The Song That Came From Nowhere

Bud | Seminole, Texas, USA | 05/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The sole subject of this review is the song 'Trio' (the entire "Starless and Bible Black" album has been newly remastered and re-released on CD). In a sentence, `Trio' is: a hypnotic instrumental that makes the listener's heart ache with melancholy, but somehow keeps their brain attentive with a hint of carefree serenity. Violin and mellotron-induced flute sounds wander hand-in-hand about the concert hall. In the liner notes to the live King Crimson release "The Night Watch" (which documents the group's November 1973 performance at Concertgebouw, Amsterdam), violinist David Cross offers some comments which may be the most important and relevant as to the origin of `Trio;' "The morale of the band was low and we went on stage that night as four tired and separate individuals." Cross goes on to explain that, when the musicians' spirits had reached the doldrums, they began to play a "happy/sad" tune that became known as `Trio' (overdubs from this concert were used for the "Starless and Bible Black" album). Knowing this makes listening to the song a better experience for the listener, because they won't become quite as lost in wondering where such beauty could come from. `Trio' is a genuine, spontaneous personal expression by a group of cheerless men that perfectly described their personal state through instrumental music because, as is the case all too often, words and lyrics cannot give that feeling justice. One can imagine drummer Bill Bruford sitting behind his drum kit, sticks folded across his chest, a serene but sad stare on his face as `Trio' filled the air that night in Concertgebouw."