The weakest Crimson studio album from their first era is only a real
disappointment in relation to the extraordinarily high quality of the
group's earlier efforts. The songs are somewhat uneven and draw from
three years of inspiration. "The Letter" is an adaptation of "Drop In," a
group composition that was featured in the early set of the original
Crimson lineup from 1969, while "Song of the Gulls" goes back to the
pre-King Crimson trio of Giles, Giles & Fripp for its source ("Suite
No. 1"). There are also a few surprises, such as the Beatles-like
harmonies on the raunchy "Ladies of the Road" and the extraordinary
interweaving of electric guitar and Mellotron by Robert Fripp on "A
Sailor's Tale, which is one of the highlights of the early- to
mid-period group's output. Some of the music overstays its welcome --
several of the six tracks are extended too far, out of the need to fill
up an LP -- but the virtuosity of the band picks up most of the slack on
the composition side: Collins' saxes and Wallace's drums keep things
much more than interesting in tandem with Fripp's guitar and Mellotron,
and guest vocalist Paulina Lucas' keening accompaniment carries parts of
"Formentera Lady" that might otherwise have dragged. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1. Formentera Lady (10:14)
2. Sailor's Tale (7:21)
3. The Letters (4:26)
4. Ladies Of The Road (5:28)
5. Prelude: Song Of The Gulls (4:14)
6. Islands (11:51)
Credits :
Robert Fripp - Gguitar, Mellotron, Peter's Pedal Harmonium
and sundry implements
Mel Collins - Flute, Bass flute, Saxes and Vocals
Boz Burrell - Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals and Choreography
Ian Wallace - Drums, Percussion and Vocals
Peter Sinfield - Words, Sounds and Visions
With :
Keith Tippet - Piano, Paulina Lucas - Soprano, Robin Miller - Oboe, Mark Charig - Cornet, Harry Miller - String Bass
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