King Crimson - THRAK (2 LP, 2019 Reissue)
- LP
- 2 piece(s)
- 1995
- 16 tracks
- 1 uur
- progressive rock
THRAKCheapest atimusic.uk
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4.6
Average of 10 reviews
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I concur that this is one of the top modern pressings. I'm just curious about the pressing plant details.
I mentioned King Crimson's 1995 release "THRAK" some time back, specifically about the CD version. Having given it another spin (or two), I'm convinced "THRAK" stands as their finest work. The blend of dual guitars (or perhaps more overdubs), twin basses, and two drummers—a double-trio setup—creates a powerful sound with delicate, beautiful moments. "Coda: Marine 475" is like the ultimate Yardbirds rave-up, all packed into under three minutes. I've never been a huge fan of Adrian Belew's songwriting, but here he truly excels, both as a writer and guitarist. The title "THRAK" perfectly captures the essence of this album. The music is orchestral yet tightly controlled by Robert Fripp and the band. Fripp is the Duke Ellington of this group, skilled at maintaining a singular vision while highlighting each musician's unique style. Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto deliver brilliant, almost chaotic rhythms that complement the sweetness and, mostly, the harshness of the guitars. My all-time favorite guitar albums include the debuts by Television and The Feelies, and "THRAK" is right up there with them as an outstanding guitar record.
“Thrak” brings together my beloved elements from my top King Crimson albums: the heavy, harmonically risky, and slightly groovy beats of “Red,” and the Adrian Belew impact and vibrant new-wave guitars of “Discipline.” The album is a bit too lengthy and lacks a strong concept, and most of the songs with lyrics aren’t noteworthy except for “Dinosaur”; I’ll need to listen more to figure out which tracks to skip to reach the highlights. But King Crimson has always shone with Robert Fripp’s intricate compositions and their collective sound, not in songwriting or concepts, and the digital recording beautifully captures their dynamic, spacious hi-fi. If you're into well-recorded instruments improvising on quirky ideas, then “Thrak” is your kind of album.
This LP is truly an excellent rendition of the original album. However, I'd like to inform those who believe the final track is the full version of "Inner Garden" that it's actually a distinct "complete" acoustic take on the song. So, don't be let down like I was when you first hear it.
Among my top picks. The percussion work by Bruford and Mastelotto on tracks like THRAK and Dinosaur is top-notch. It's one of those (sort of?) underrated albums that you either adore or can't stand. I'd argue this is my preferred era featuring Adrian Belew (not that the 80s albums aren't total hits, it's just my personal taste). The song People is absolutely amazing. Also, my buddy dozed off to "Walking on Air" more than once. 😭 So, I'm giving it an 8.9/10.
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