King Crimson Vroom Vroom CD - Import

Recorded live at Metropolitan Theater, Mexico City, Mexico and Longacre Theater, New York, New York on August 2-4, 1996 and November 20-25, 1995. Includes liner notes by Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn.

From the mid-'90s on, a steady stream of archival live King Crimson recordings began to appear, released by Crimson guitarist/leader Robert Fripp as the backbone of his independent cottage industry. This thicket of albums can be an intimidating proposition for the uninitiated, even though each one bears its own distinctive charms. For historical context, let's note that VROOOM VROOOM's two discs feature material from two separate stints in 1995 and '96 during which the band was exploring the "double quartet" concept. This format added second drummer Pat Mastelotto and "touch guitar" player (its nearest relative being Tony Levin's Chapman Stick) to the four-man lineup that led Crimson's '80s return to action.

While the necessity of these additions is sometimes questionable and/or inaudible, all members hold their own in the complex, gamelan-influenced latticework that the '80s Crimson inaugurated. The set lists are largely split between contemporary offerings and highlights from the band's three '80s albums, with impressive energy going into every performance. Some special, unexpected moments occur when the group launches into a chestnut like "Red" or "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" from the very different '70s version of Crimson, with surprising and exciting results.

Pat Mastelotto, Bill Bruford (drums. electronic drums, percussion).

King Crimson: Adrian Belew (vocals, guitar); Robert Fripp (guitar, electronics); Trey Gunn (guitar); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick);

Down Beat (2/02, p.68) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...Highlights the double trio at its finest, as they cover selections spanning the late '60s through the mid '90s....Fripp and Belew perform with a vengeance..."