Review by Oleg Trukhanovich

This reissue triumphantly clears the fog from the band's sophomore album. The SHM-CD tech breathes fresh air into the 1970 tapes: the soaring mellotrons on the title track gain immense depth, while the acoustic simplicity of “Peace” sounds intimate and crisp. The dramatic shifts between the quirky “Cat Food” and the fierce “Pictures of a City” benefit from expanded dynamic range.

Crimson's most baroque and complex jazz-rock effort receives a massive audiophile upgrade. The mastering masterfully separates the chaotic polyphony of woodwinds, jagged keyboard motifs, and Jon Anderson’s guest vocals on “Prince Rupert Awakes.” It completely untangles the historically dense and challenging mix.

This CD emphasizes the melancholic, chamber-like, and pastoral beauty of “Islands”. The sonic transparency is staggering, holding focus from the quiet double-bass intro on “Formentera Lady” to the weeping strings of the title cut. Exceptional channel separation highlights every subtle oboe and percussion nuance, shaping a deeply meditative listening experience.

Documenting the American tour of the short-lived Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, and Ian Wallace lineup, this release was historically notorious for its lo-fi, "garage-band" sound quality. However, the Japanese mastering works wonders here, shaping that raw, distorted cassette source into a cohesive, ferocious wall of sound. The dirty, blues-rock engine of “21st Century Schizoid Man” and the manic funk jamming on “Groon” sound incredibly visceral on this disc, perfectly capturing the primal chaos of a band breaking apart at the seams.

Reissue delivers a spectacular presentation of the band's most incendiary live era. This second installment of “The Great Deceiver” compilation achieves incredible sonic weight on this press. The high-fidelity manufacturing breathes fresh air into the historical multi-track tapes, granting the intense, jagged delivery of the title track and the complex improvisations phenomenal separation and depth. The mastering cleanly isolates John Wetton’s overdriven bass lines from Bill Bruford’s intricate drumming without losing the raw energy of the gigs.

This CD stands as the definitive presentation of the band's landmark debut. Utilizing the acclaimed 2019 Steven Wilson stereo mix and packed with instrumental bonus tracks, this reissue handles the historical tapes flawlessly. The SHM-CD pressing expands the depth of the mellotron on “Epitaph,” while isolating Michael Giles’s delicate cymbal work on “Moonchild” from digital grain. Greg Lake’s driving bass and Fripp's jagged fury on “21st Century Schizoid Man” hit with magnificent dynamic punch.

This reissue marks a triumphant rebirth of the band's sophomore effort. Steven Wilson’s mix sweeps away any vintage tape mud, granting “Pictures of a City” breathtaking dynamic range. The true highlight is David Singleton's stripped-back "Elemental Mix," which exposes the core structures before final studio layers. The acoustic work on “Peace” and the epic title-track mellotrons feel remarkably close and textured.

This anniversary set provides much-needed transparency to Crimson’s most intricate, avant-garde jazz-rock opus. The dense polyphony of woodwinds, Keith Tippett's jagged piano arrangements, and Jon Anderson’s guest vocals on “Prince Rupert Awakes” are untangled with stunning precision. This high-fidelity SHM-CD pressing isolates the multi-layered tracking effortlessly. The chaotic industrial-jazz movements of the title suite boast an expansive stereo soundstage, offering a crystal-clear, mesmerising listening experience.

This double SHM-CD beautifully chronicles the final stops of the 2021 US tour, serving as a powerful swan song for the three-drummer era. The intricate polyrhythmic wall delivered by Harrison, Mastelotto, and Stacey is captured with stunning structural clarity and zero dynamic clutter. Crushing mechanical weight on tracks like “Level Five” coexists perfectly with Mel Collins' shimmering woodwind textures. The mastering effortlessly balances the expansive frequency range of a massive eight-piece lineup, delivering an immersive, front-row audio experience.

Featuring the powerhouse lineup of Robert Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, and David Cross, this multi-track recording showcases the group at their heaviest and most intense. This edition delivers raw, uncompromising progressive rock mastery from the final weeks of this historic lineup's touring career.

The historic return of King Crimson to the stage. This live recording documents the premier of the radical, seven-piece lineup featuring the innovative three-drummer frontline alongside Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, and Mel Collins. The performance highlights a powerful, orchestral reinvention of both classic catalog tracks and contemporary pieces. This SHM-CD edition offers exceptional audio clarity that perfectly separates the complex polyrhythms and dense concert arrangements.

It's an absolute audiophile triumph, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band's heaviest 1974 masterpiece. The core appeal lies in Steven Wilson's stunning all-new 2024 stereo mixes paired with David Singleton's fascinating "Elemental Mixes" on disc two. The premium SHM-CD manufacturing captures the album's aggressive dynamic shifts flawlessly; John Wetton’s distorted, proto-grunge bass on the title track hits with immense physical weight. Singleton's stripped-back mixes expose hidden track architectures, bringing Eddie Jobson's guest violin lines and the lush mellotron layers on “Starless” into stark, lifelike focus.

This edition is a gold standard for experiencing the band's live history. Part 1 of "The Great Deceiver" captures the formidable 1973–1974 era. Thanks to the Japanese pressing quality, the improvisations feel even more tactile, and the fierce attack of the Wetton-Bruford-Fripp-Cross lineup slices through the air. A must-have for those seeking the ultimate sonic depth in Crimson’s archival recordings.

The second part of the anthology continues the deep dive into the chaotic and beautiful energy of European and US shows. The SHM-CD format is crucial here, helping to separate complex sonic layers during moments of collective improvisation. John Wetton’s bass sounds monumental without overpowering David Cross’s delicate violin passages. A perfect companion to Part 1, completing the portrait of the most dangerous rock band of its time.

This reissue takes us back to one of the most flawless and well-played concerts of the classic 1973 quartet (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Cross). It's the definitive presentation of the legendary 1973 Amsterdam Concertgebouw performance. The separation between John Wetton’s growling, overdriven bass structures and David Cross’s delicate violin counter-melodies is absolutely flawless. Bill Bruford’s intricate drumming hits with incredible dynamic snappiness. It provides an expansive, three-dimensional window into one of progressive rock's finest live hours.

The beauty of this album is about how they interact to each other, so much fun, so much virtuosity and excitement.

Nagoya gave the band a powerful reception. The energy of the hall is palpable through the recording. The band sounds like a single, perfectly tuned machine. "Dangerous Curves" slowly builds the atmosphere, turning into a sonic storm perfectly captured on CDs.

The final chord of the Japanese tour. There is a sense of triumph in the performance. The closing "Red" sounds monumental and heavy. The SHM-CD provides the high-fidelity transparency necessary for such rich and complex music.

This release is a true gem for fans of the 80s lineup. The Frejus recording showcases King Crimson at the height of their "polyrhythmic" prowess. The SHM-CD edition delivers stunning detail: the shimmering guitars of Fripp and Belew on “The Sheltering Sky” sound crystal clear, while Tony Levin’s elastic bass and Bruford’s intricate drumming drive “Thela Hun Ginjeet” with incredible energy. The Mini-LP packaging and high-fidelity sound make this CD the definitive way to revisit that sun-drenched French arena performance.

An inspiring live performance in 1981 by three great guitarists, that every guitar lover must hear. The late Paco de Lucia is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Fast, virtuosic, passionate, and innovative he was, and so open minded to blend the art of flamenco with other genre (like his collaboration with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea). The other two, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin are definitely among best jazz fusion guitarists in recent time.