Cirkus [Live]

King Crimson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 25, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Caroline
• ASIN: B00000J5X9
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,612 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dinosaur [#]

2. Thela Hun Ginjeet

3. Red [#]

4. B'boom [#]

5. Thrak [#]

6. 1 ii 2

7. Neurotica [#]

8. Indiscipline [#]

9. Vrooom Vrooom [#]

10. Coda: Marine 475 [#]

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man

2. Ladies of the Road [#]

3. A Man a City

4. The Court of the Crimson King

5. Fracture

6. Easy Money

7. Improv: Besancon [#]

8. The Talking Drum

9. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2 [#]

10. Starless

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mott Crimson, February 1, 2001

By 

Kim Fletcher (Pattaya, Chonburi Thailand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cirkus (Audio CD)

For those of you that need an introduction to the world of King Crimson, here is a perfect place to start. For those of you familiar with Robert Fripp and his many assorted cohorts, this has everything you could possibly want from the live beast that is King Crimson. The years from 1969-1996 are covered, spread over 8 different line-ups, all seamlessly put together to sound like one 2 ½ hour concert. One of progressive rock's founding bands, King Crimson pioneered the use of extended song format with many instruments not often used in the standard rock format, mellotron, violin, clarinet, oboe, bass stick, touch guitar, etc. King Crimson said it was alright to create music that didn't have an instantly hummable melody. This made them sometimes difficult to listen to, but a little patience will reveal many musical pleasures. The great thing about listening to King Crimson live is that they strike a perfect balance between tightly written well-structured songs and improvisational looseness. It is a marriage made in heaven, introducing an element of danger that is a true test of musicianship. Every King Crimson classic is here, but the closing of disc two with the absurdly titled "Larks Tongue In Aspic" (part two, naturally) by the 1996 Double Trio King Crimson, of Robert Fripp, Adrian Below, Trey Gunn, Tony Levon, Pat Mastelotto & Bill Bruford, followed by "Starless" from 1974 with John Wetton, David Cross, plus the ever present Robert Fripp & Bill Bruford is simply Jaw Dropping. It all comes in a nice little 2 C.D Digi-Pak with informative liner notes and a brightly coloured booklet with a full Crimson family tree, and lots of pictures to look at, of all the different line ups over the years. Give the dog a bone, what more could you want. Mott the Dog.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Aural Astonishment from the Crimson One, June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cirkus (Audio CD)

It is hard to use too many superlatives for this two-disc set. This is the definitive introduction to the live performance history of King Crimson from its earliest days to its very latest incarnations and fractals. Even if you have some of the material from which portions of this set is drawn, you don't have all of it and not sequenced in this fashion. Seamless editing of performances from 1974 into performances from 1996 (just to select one instance) leave the listener in absolute awe at the musicality of the performers who have been selected/chosen to give voice to the muse that is King Crimson.

The enhanced CD wherein Mr. Fripp gives a brief history of the band and its cast over the years is a most worthwhile addition. Also, very nice booklet included that gives a bit of a family tree and some nice photos of the folk in action.

Highly recommended--you will not be disappointed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More live Crimson for the masses., July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cirkus (Audio CD)

Granted, Robert Fripp has created a whole new industry with all the live Crimson material released in the past few years. However, Crimson fanatics (like me) can't get enough of this stuff. This set includes much material from the aforementioned live releases, but most of it is previously unreleased. Especially interesting are the two cuts from the '72 lineup - a scorching rendition of Schizoid Man (I believe from the live Earthbound LP) and a real treat, Ladies Of The Road (from Islands). Also, the live performance of Dinosaur by the current lineup will literally blow you out of your chair. A beautiful limited-edition mini-album sleeve, a nice booklet with loads of photos, an enhanced CD-ROM section, a more-than-reasonable price for a 2-CD set...how could any loyal Crimsonite go wrong? If you don't have the cash for all those live Crimson releases out there, this is the perfect sampler.