Post by Rabbit on Jan 18, 2015 18:04:31 GMT
I'm going to take a look at King Crimson, I think .... Time allowing.
To me as a fifteen year old, this album really affected me deeply. When I first heard '21st Century Schizoid Man' I was totally bowled over by its power and anger. Most had no idea what it was about. It seemed raucous and violent.
Compared to modern music, it isn't quite as raucous and violent as we felt at the time. This was released after ten days work in the studio in 1969. What else was going on? Beatles. Stones. Jimi Hendrix...... Hippies. Richard Nixon. Vietnam. The American political scene was worrying.
The Crimson King is supposed to be an immortal being who is the self-proclaimed leader of 'the Random' which is also known as 'Red'. (Another King Crimson album) purpose is the colour 'white'.
The Crimson King controls vampires and weird things like weather!!
The King is drawn on the cover and at first sight, I must admit, I found it very startling. It looks at you on the front as if it's being tortured and is screaming. (It is) inside, it looks more at peace with itself.
This sleeve was drawn by a guy called Barry Godber who died in 1970 at the age of twenty four.
1. 21st Century Schizoid Man
"Cat's foot, iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first century schizoid man"
These words are screamed out at you through a distorted voice following a strange low level intro of mellotrone warming up with steam sounds like a circus organ starting up and a vicious sounding riff played with real venom. Even the bass guitar screams at one point after the first phrase. The opening screams violence at you, played in unison by guitars, bass and electric saxes.
Following the first first spitting out venom, the riff is repeated, including the elephant like screaming of the bass after the third repeat before we hear verse 2. All that accompanies is a scrunched up type of chord with a high hat, hit while it's open and damped with the hand.
Back to the venomous riff including the screaming bass.
Then part of the end of the link is repeated and used as a link to a frantic instrumental section. The tempo speeds up during this link.
The instrumental has a riff played by saxes and guitar in unison with a walking bass. (It plays a regular pattern of notes but moves around all over the place)
Then a syncopated rhythm with a wailing guitar.
The texture clears and we're left with drums, bass and guitar improvising. This section always reminds me of Emerson, Lake and Palmer since its a clear cut trio. More jazz orientated.
Then electronic sounds whizzing around. (Distorted saxes)
Saxes return with a short rhythmic burst, stuttering their way through their angry phrases with the wailing guitar.
Following this is a section that I have always found amazing. Everyone plays a fast passage in unison and stops dead. With absolute silence between each burst. (Except the bass who plays the same note over and over with the same rhythm) the dynamics go right down and they continue these curious passages. Really controlled.
Back to the anger ridden riff. The distorted voice before it launches into chaos as an ending. It stops and then has a final scream at you by starting up again.
So what's it about?
Sheer anger. What at? Politics in USA at the time. Nixon. Vietnam war.
Chaos - the Crimson King creating a random set of events
For me, this is the start of progressive rock.
To me as a fifteen year old, this album really affected me deeply. When I first heard '21st Century Schizoid Man' I was totally bowled over by its power and anger. Most had no idea what it was about. It seemed raucous and violent.
Compared to modern music, it isn't quite as raucous and violent as we felt at the time. This was released after ten days work in the studio in 1969. What else was going on? Beatles. Stones. Jimi Hendrix...... Hippies. Richard Nixon. Vietnam. The American political scene was worrying.
The Crimson King is supposed to be an immortal being who is the self-proclaimed leader of 'the Random' which is also known as 'Red'. (Another King Crimson album) purpose is the colour 'white'.
The Crimson King controls vampires and weird things like weather!!
The King is drawn on the cover and at first sight, I must admit, I found it very startling. It looks at you on the front as if it's being tortured and is screaming. (It is) inside, it looks more at peace with itself.
This sleeve was drawn by a guy called Barry Godber who died in 1970 at the age of twenty four.
1. 21st Century Schizoid Man
"Cat's foot, iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first century schizoid man"
These words are screamed out at you through a distorted voice following a strange low level intro of mellotrone warming up with steam sounds like a circus organ starting up and a vicious sounding riff played with real venom. Even the bass guitar screams at one point after the first phrase. The opening screams violence at you, played in unison by guitars, bass and electric saxes.
Following the first first spitting out venom, the riff is repeated, including the elephant like screaming of the bass after the third repeat before we hear verse 2. All that accompanies is a scrunched up type of chord with a high hat, hit while it's open and damped with the hand.
Back to the venomous riff including the screaming bass.
Then part of the end of the link is repeated and used as a link to a frantic instrumental section. The tempo speeds up during this link.
The instrumental has a riff played by saxes and guitar in unison with a walking bass. (It plays a regular pattern of notes but moves around all over the place)
Then a syncopated rhythm with a wailing guitar.
The texture clears and we're left with drums, bass and guitar improvising. This section always reminds me of Emerson, Lake and Palmer since its a clear cut trio. More jazz orientated.
Then electronic sounds whizzing around. (Distorted saxes)
Saxes return with a short rhythmic burst, stuttering their way through their angry phrases with the wailing guitar.
Following this is a section that I have always found amazing. Everyone plays a fast passage in unison and stops dead. With absolute silence between each burst. (Except the bass who plays the same note over and over with the same rhythm) the dynamics go right down and they continue these curious passages. Really controlled.
Back to the anger ridden riff. The distorted voice before it launches into chaos as an ending. It stops and then has a final scream at you by starting up again.
So what's it about?
Sheer anger. What at? Politics in USA at the time. Nixon. Vietnam war.
Chaos - the Crimson King creating a random set of events
For me, this is the start of progressive rock.