King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon

2004 reissue of the progressive rock act's 1970 album adds two bonus tracks, 'Cat Food' (single version) & 'Groon' (Cat Food B-side). On the DGM label Album Description

In the Wake of Poseidon

I love this CD. It takes me back to the days when I listened to it over and over when in college. The band was so unique in terms of the lyrics, harmonic progressions, instrumentation, and in the ways they used the instruments. The drummer was more of a percussionist. I love it!!! May 14, 2008

decent, but the future was brighter

I guess this is an improvement over the debut album from this revolutionary progressive rock band, but I can think of four albums by King Crimson you should hear before this one because they're better- Lizard, Islands, Larks Tongue in Aspic, and Red. Four masterpieces.

In the Wake of Poseidon just has a few weak moments scattered through some highly memorable ones, but the thing is, there's no weak moments on the four albums I mention above. Those are four brilliant masterpieces that you must own as soon as you can.

"Pictures of a City" has some nice jazzy parts, but the vocals are horrible, and the sound quality is atrocious. "Cat Food" is probably the best song for being an atmospheric jazzy piece. The title song is just a rewrite of what was done better on the debut. Or maybe not (I like this song a lot despite not really being much different from the stuff the band had already done previously). "Devil's Triangle" has an atmosphere that really doesn't do anything for me except get under my skin a little bit for being WAY too long. The atmosphere never really goes anywhere.

Not one of the bands better albums, that's for sure. March 19, 2008

A worthy followup to Crimson King, and a miracle the album was released at all....

This album is one of Crimson's most maligned recordings, but I think it's as great as anything they recorded. It does sound a lot like their debut, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss it. The "Peace" trilogy is wonderful, and the song Pictures of a City is as complex and as intense as anything King Crimson has done. Cadence and Cascade is wonderful, too, a moving and beautiful ballad. I love Cat Food, with a great instrumental track and great lyrics. It's a miracle that this album came out at all. Ian MacDonald had already left the band, and Greg Lake left during these sessions (to join Emerson, Lake, and Palmer), leaving Fripp (who is the only member of Crimson to remain throughout all the incarnations) to keep the band together. He did keep it together (thank goodness), and completed this album. The album has a very coherent feel despite all the shifting personnel. It is a testament to Fripp's genius (he wrote practically all the music here) to put out such a good album despite all the obstacles. And Fripp kept Crimson going through 1975 when they broke up. They reunited in 1982, and have basically been together in one form or another since. This is a great album, the naysayers are wrong on it big time. December 26, 2007

It sounds like the debut, although there are some differences

Many folks criticize this 1970 album, citing it as a weak effort that simply regurgitates material found on the highly influential debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (1969). I suppose that admittedly, this album does mirror the debut at times although there are some subtle differences. In spite of the criticisms that have been leveled at this album, I still enjoy In the Wake of Poseidon just as much as any of the other albums released by Mr. Fripp and company during the 1969-1974 timeframe.

The lineup at this point represents a slightly modified version of the first lineup and includes Robert Fripp (electric and acoustic guitars, mellotron, VCS3); Greg Lake (vocals); Michael Giles (drums and percussion); Peter Giles (electric bass guitar); Keith Tippett (piano); Mel Collins (saxophones and flute); Gordon Haskell (vocal on Cadence and Cascade); and Peter Sinfield (lyrics). I think it goes without saying that all of these musicians are absolutely top shelf, with Michael and Peter forming an incredible rhythm section. For those of you that are curious, following the dissolution of this lineup, Michael and Peter would go on to record the excellent album McDonald and Giles (1970), with former King Crimson member Ian McDonald (he played on the debut). Lastly, Gordon Haskell would contribute lead vocals and play bass on the excellent follow-up album Lizard (also 1970).

I suppose that I need to get this out of the way so here I go - the track Pictures of a City sounds a great deal like 21st Century Schizoid Man; In the Wake of Poseidon sounds a lot like In the Court of the Crimson King; Cadence and Cascade somewhat resembles I Talk to the Wind; and the three part The Devil's Triangle suite superficially resembles Moonchild, yet without the structureless sound collage found on Moonchild. There are however, some important differences. The dark and sinister suite The Devil's Triangle is loosely based on Gustav Holst's composition Mars (from The Planets) and is played predominantly on the mellotron (there is a snippet of In the Court of the Crimson King buried in there somewhere). Cat Food is an absolutely manic piece, with some dazzling, avant-garde piano playing from Keith Tippett. Finally, there are the quiet and acoustic Peace themes (A Beginning; A Theme; and An End) that are placed at the beginning, middle, and end of the album.

The sound quality of this remastered album is excellent and the bonus tracks constitute worthwhile additions.

I think that on the whole, while this album does quote heavily from the debut, there is enough in the way of really interesting compositions and excellent playing that it all balances out in the end. Besides, I absolutely love the debut and it is quite possibly the most influential prog album ever released. So, as far as I see it, quoting from it is a good thing. As such, this album is recommended along with In the Court of the Crimson King; Lizard; Islands (1971); Larks Tongues in Aspic (1973); Starless and Bible Black (1974); Red (1974); and the live album USA (1975). The album McDonald and Giles is also highly recommended. September 16, 2007

Only For The Diehard Fan

For my tastes, there isn't enough here to warrant many repeat listenings. I like King Crimson and prefer the later versions of this ever-changing alumnus to this mix of performers. I do like Pictures of a City very much and wish it had landed on the first album. For the people reading this who are unfamiliar with King Crimson, please invest in their first album In The Court of The Crimson King if you are looking for some vintage Crimson. I would skip everything after that until Lark's Tongue in Aspic when KC really found their true vibe through a solid new membership of talented players. This disc just doesn't do it for me. - Ciao September 9, 2007

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