Larks' Tongues in Aspic (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
Type = Album
Artist = King Crimson


Released = March 23, 1973
Recorded = January-February 1973 at Command Studios, London, engineered by Nick Ryan.
Genre = Progressive rock
Experimental rock
Hard rock
Length = 46:37
Label = Island Records Atlantic Records Polydor Records E.G. Records Virgin Records
Producer = King Crimson
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fqxq95ldte link]
*Robert Christgau (B-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=king+crimson link]
Last album = "Earthbound" (1972)
This album = "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" (1973)
Next album = "Starless and Bible Black" (1974)

"Larks' Tongues in Aspic" is a 1973 album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, and features original member and guitarist Robert Fripp and new members John Wetton (vocals, bass), David Cross (violin, mellotron), Jamie Muir (percussion), and Bill Bruford (drums), as well as lyricist Richard Palmer-James. The album sees the band incorporate into its sound violin and also various exotic percussion instruments, including sheet metal and mbiras. The title was invented by percussionist Jamie Muir and is meant to signify what he heard in this album's music: something fragile and delicate (larks' tongues) encased in something corrosive and acidic (aspic).Fact|date=August 2007

The album opens with a long experimental instrumental piece titled "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One." After that there are three vocal pieces, "Book of Saturday", "Exiles" and "Easy Money." These are followed by two more instrumentals, "The Talking Drum" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two." The instrumental pieces on this album have strong jazz fusion influences, and portions have an almost heavy metal feel. The angry, angular mood of this album is largely credited to the influence of Béla Bartók. [http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/brian_eno/interviews/hitpa74b.html]

Track listing

ide one

#"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/J. Wetton/B. Bruford/J. Muir) – 13:36
#"Book of Saturday" (R. Fripp/J. Wetton/R. Palmer-James) – 2:49
#"Exiles" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/R. Palmer-James) – 7:40

ide two

#"Easy Money" (R. Fripp/J. Wetton/R. Palmer-James) – 7:54
#"The Talking Drum" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/J. Wetton/B. Bruford/J. Muir) – 7:26
#"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two" (R. Fripp) – 7:12

Personnel

*Robert Fripp - guitar, mellotron, devices, electric piano
*John Wetton - bass, lead vocals, acoustic piano
*Bill Bruford - drums
*David Cross - violin, viola, mellotron, flute, electric piano
*Jamie Muir - percussionwith
*Richard Palmer-James - lyrics