In the Wake of Poseidon: Remastered

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-06-26 rating:
`In the Court of the Crimson King' - reworked.
`In the Court of the Crimson King' (1969), arguably one of the greatest records ever made, was certainly going to be very difficult to follow, especially with a change in line-up. Unfortunately, it shows. It is certainly not up to the majestic criterion of `In the Court'. However, that is not to say it is not a great record. It is.

Greg Lake's haunting vocals of the opening hurtle into the explosion that is the magnificent riff of `Pictures of a City'. This honestly is a fantastic track, although structurally it is merely an extended copycat of `21st Century Schizoid Man'. The melodic and acoustic feel of `Cadence and Cascade' is wonderfully carried by Lake's smooth vocal timbre, and is a awe-inspiring calm after `Pictures' (again, much in the same way that `I Talk to the Wind' was the calm after `Schizoid Man'). `In the Wake of Poseidon' has the orchestral backdrop of the mellotron that is more than a little reminiscent of `Epitaph', as is its general soundscape, melody and harmony. From here, the album does depart somewhat from `In the Court', with an acoustic guitar solo from Fripp followed by the well-known `Cat-food' rock `n' roll meets jazz with modern jazz improviser pianist Keith Tippett. Unfortunately, the `Mars' march from Holst's `The Planets Suite' in `The Devil's Triangle' is beyond dull and is a real letdown with a sub-standard climax and concludes with ostensibly haphazardous improvisation that recalls `Moonchild'. The album, unpredictably unlike `In the Court', ends tranquilly, bringing the listener down from the pandemonium of `The Devil's Triangle'.

All in all, the album is a great one, as would naturally be expected from King Crimson. If you are expecting anything different from `In the Court' you may be disappointed, but if you are a fan it is, of course, essential listening!

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review by: date: 2008-04-28 rating:
Their best? I say 'Yea!'.
Regarding the title's positivity, I must admit this was the first KC album I bought (for 40p, from a schoolmate, complete with cover that felt just like the oily original!); if I'd heard the first album before this one, who knows what would've been the outcome? But, even 30 years later, one can still hear a very pronounced link between the first two Crim albums. However, history suggests that the band - or Fripp - set out to make an even more advanced album for ...Poseidon. The opening Peace - A Beginning has Lake seemingly progressing from a cave, chanting the enigmatic lyrics. Studio echo, of course, meant that no cave was needed, but let's not spoil the imagery, ok? Pictures of a City crashes in, like thinking man's metal, but has medieval modes and jazz structures to contend with... and it contends just fine! This is exciting stuff, so heavy at times that it becomes amusing. The middle section here works better (to me) than within the earlier live takes. The piece DOES bear strong relation to ...Schizoid Man, but a clone? No way. Nothing as complex and 'demanding' as this could be seen as part of a formula. Cadence & Cascade - I Talk to the Wind 2? Again, nearly, but not quite. This is a very adult ballad, a summery-yet-melancholy love-song. Beautiful. Your mum would like it, but in a good way. The title track has echoes of Epitaph AND the previous title track, but its lyrical cleverness again lends it credibility. And the rest of the album holds its own: Peace (A Theme) shows just how good Fripp is as an acoustic minstrel; the hilarious and jazzy Cat Food is very different from Moonchild, although the Mars collage possibly fulfils the same role as the latter's free-jazz escapades; and Peace (An End) wraps things up in very emotive style. "Peace is the end, like death of the war" - lump in throat time. Sorry for the length of this review, but it IS an involved album. Fripp himself probably disowns it, but that's his business. My advice - buy this and the first Crimson album together!

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review by: jnbp date: 2007-11-15 rating:
Overlooked
When naming the best King Crimson album or top ten prog albums, somehow its very rare that someone says 'In The Wake Of Poseidon.'
Maybe they should; this is a great album, its got everything going for it that 'In The Court...,' does.
Greg Lakes Voice is wonderful here: rich, commanding and mysterious. Gordon Haskell's vocals on the memorable 'Cadence and Cascade,' are pretty great as well.
Some of the songs here are epic; the energetic 'Pictures of a City,' and the grand and lush Title Track are some of Crimson's best work.
Even the weird and uncharacteristic 'Cat Food,' grows on you, especially the drumming, its very fun.
Overall, a fantastic album that deserves more recognition. Buy it Now!

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review by: date: 2007-06-02 rating:
Rather than just a 'rehash' of ITCOTKC...
...this is probably the album that Fripp really had wanted to make in the first place, but was at first unfamiliar with studio techniques for this type of album, and then the pompose doom and gloom had to be toned out a bit. I does sound smoother than Court.
I appreciate it, no matter that some degrade is as Court #2 (Which I also love)

Now if only to complete the LP paper cover reissues by adding 'A young persons guied to King Crimson (1975)


review by: date: 2006-11-06 rating:
In The Court Part Two
'In The Court of the Crimson King' has often (quite rightly) been described as one of the most important albums of the late 60's/early 70's Prog Rock genre. It was always, therefore, going to be difficult to follow this album and it became even more so when most of the band jumped ship just before or during its recording leaving guitarist Robert Fripp and lyricist Pete Sinfield as the only original members.

Despite the fact that a good deal of the material was not new (Pictures of a City and Mars had been part of the bands live set for months) this album does seem in parts as if they felt they had to get an album out quickly and the safest bet was to follow the highly successful pattern of the first album. 'Pictures of a City' is very similar in make up to '21st Century Schizoid Man' and then 'Cadence and Cacade' is the quiet following track (as 'I Talk to the Wind' is on the first album) The title track is very reminiscent of 'Epitaph' on the first album with great swathes of mellotron dominating the track. 'Cat Food' is the first different track on the album (and it certainly is - I shall long remember them performing this on TOTP!!) 'Mars' ends the album as it did their live set at the time.

If it sounds as if I am doing nothing but criticise the album it is not my intention as 36 years on I still play it regularly because, even if it is similar to the first album, it is still top quality music played extremely well and the title track is one of KC's top tracks from any of their many line ups.

Well worth a listen but if you are going to buy one early KC album then the first is probably a better bet

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