Vrooom Vrooom

"'Vrooom Vrooom' is an incredible live album made up from two halves - one recorded in Mexico in mid 1996, and the other in New York City, late 1995. It is without doubt the definitive live statement from this now legendary double trio line-up of King Crimson in the nineties.

Indeed, this twenty-six song "in concert" performance reveals the six man King Crimson in their prime, as hearing only the first few strains of the opening / title track will testify. Although the original double CD, 'B'Boom Official Bootleg', was and still is a sterling blueprint of this period of the mighty Crim, 'Vrooom Vrooom' is noticeably more confident, featuring intense and fiery performances of many classics from the edgy, progressive repertoire of this band.

Vintage works from both the sixties and seventies are rearticulated with this (then new) lineup of staggering musical geniuses i.e. '21st Century Schizoid Man', 'Lark's Tongues in Aspic Part 2', the wonderfully syncopated, 'The Talking Drum', and the vehement, 'Red'.

By this stage the boys had had more time to grow into the 'Thrak' material which was debuted in 1994 on the studio recording of the same name. The performances of the pieces from that particular album (they play most of the CD here) are superlative, revealing a musical opulence that they have still to equal. Bill Bruford shines particularly well on the dazzling drum duets, 'B'Boom', and 'Prism'. And in turn, Adrian Belew's vocals and searing guitar work on tracks like 'People' and the more laid-back dub (thanks to Tony Levin) of 'One Time', provides much elation.

No modern Crimson concert performance would be complete without the inclusion of some of their amazing eighties material. All three albums; 'Discipline, 'Beat', and 'Three of a Perfect Pair' are featured in one way or another, with the awe inspiring 'Discipline' getting the lions share of attention, and rightly so. However, check out the crazy version of 'Neurotica', from 1982's industrial behemoth, 'Beat' - It's so good it's scary!

King Crimson's particular brand of rock music is not for the faint hearted, but it is ideal for those of us who have a searching desire to explore new aural space, and who are happy listening to the pioneering sounds of a band who appear to have no limitations."
-MARTY