Published on Mar 18, 2003
After a preview in the form of an EP few months ago, we have a
full-length album from King Crimson. This is third official album
since the band reformed in mid 90’s, and second in the Robert
Fripp-Adrian Belew-Trey Gunn-Pat Mastelotto incarnation. In the
meantime, King Crimson has been very active on the release front.
In addition to the three albums, there were plenty of mini-albums,
and live recordings from the current lineup as well as enough
archive releases to keep the fans happy.
The Power To Believe is a very diverse album, challenging in
a way. It’s an album comprised of movements, but done with
excellent craft. Some tracks’ sounds tend to be very much removed
from the norm, and at the same time hard to swallow. On the other
hand, they make the album very diverse-sounding. Then, we have the
compositions that show King Crimson using what I call the oriental
sound, resembling the ’80s version of the band. I must admit, for
this reviewer it’s the sound and style I favor greatly.
When King Crimson gets loud, everything becomes clear. The band
isn’t really hiding much, and leaves very little room for
exploration. With the softer songs, there’s a lot more going on.
Things become hidden, and fun to locate with each listen of the
album. But, then again this is an opinion of one person; I could be
wrong. Also, with each listen the perception of this music changes,
as it becomes closer to the listener, and eventually becomes the
property of the listener.
Albums such as
The Power To Believe provide a great escape from the world
of musical commercialism. You won’t see this stuff on MTV, probably
won’t hear it on the radio, but give it a chance. Bands like King
Crimson gain new fans through word of mouth.