Yes, it’s another 50th anniversary Prog Rock classic. I guess many of you will already be familiar with it. According to Discogs there are already over 150 reissues of it. In case you aren’t totally conversant with it by now, here’s a reminder:
“Continuing where Larks’ Tongues in Aspic left off, but as a Fripp/ Wetton/ Bruford trio, with guest players Mel Collins on soprano sax, Ian McDonald on alto sax, Robin Miller on oboe, Marc Charig on cornet and David Cross on violin, the opening title track is based on a fairly straightforward idea taken, of course to the outer limits. John Wetton’s voice sounds strangely distant on ‘Fallen Angel’, a melodic piece enhanced by cornet; ‘One More Red Nightmare’ is an ingenuously structured 7 minutes with a lot of hand clapping and sterling sax work. ‘Providence’ is at first a bit of a self-indulgent affair with Cross coaxing some strange effects from his violin, but bursts into life with forceful drumming, a lead bass line, with Fripp soloing over the top as only he can. ‘Starless’ is the masterpiece here. Beginning with Fripp on mellotron and plaintive guitar, Wetton comes in with some unforgettable verses about ‘starless and Bible black’ to a sax accompaniment. 4 minutes in the tempo changes as Fripp patiently holds onto notes while Bruford employs his ‘percussives’. You wonder when the whole thing is going to explode, but it doesn’t and ends without returning to the main theme via a jazz sax break, some oboe and more mellotron. Although not for the faint-hearted “Red” has become a landmark album, and one of which John Wetton was inordinately proud.” So, there you have it – I did warn you!
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