This new EP from King Crimson is intriguing. It's bookended by their take on a David Bowie classic (the full version and a single edit). This is a great way to sample the new version of King Crimson. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that all these songs were recorded live last year. Yet to listen to them, you'd think they were new studio recordings. That's impressive. We get the Bowie song, two Crimson classics and a song that's a drum solo. We also get a great EP from start to finish.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Heroes
The first version of David Bowie's song, this is very much a modern pop rock styled thing. Yet, if you listen carefully, there are definite King Crimson elements at play here.
Easy Money
Here we get a new live version of a King Crimson classic. This thing has always rocked. The contrast between mellower and more rocking is effective, as always. I love the killer jam they work out into around the three minute mark. They take it into some intriguing directions as the non-lyrical vocals join the mix. It drives back out into the song proper from there with a real fire.
Starless (edit)
This is probably my all-time favorite King Crimson song. In fact, I generally call it the ultimate progressive rock song. They play it quite faithfully here. As the parenthetical suggests, this is considerably shorter than the studio version of the cut. I'm guessing it's shorter than the actual live rendition if heard in full.
The Hell Hounds of Krim
This is a drum solo. I'm not a fan of drum solos, but this one is different. It really manages to create some intriguing musical textures.
Heroes (radio edit)
As the parenthetical suggests, here we have an edited version of the opening cut. It still works well in this format. I don't hear a lot of difference, really.
