King Crimson: Adrian Belew (vocals, guitar, drums); Robert Fripp (guitar); Tony Levin (synthesizers, bass, stick, background vocals); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion). Recorded live at the Spectrum, Montreal, Canada on July 11, 1984. When Robert Fripp recreated King Crimson in the early '80s, he started with a blank slate. The new order of the day was funky, circular patterns that were equal parts Balinese Gamelan music and Talking Heads' REMAIN IN LIGHT. Reprising his role as post-Hendrix guitar hero on the latter, Adrian Belew was a driving force in the new Crimson, his more poppish, light-hearted sensibilities proving the perfect foil for Fripp. Aside from a couple of videos, this is the only live document of that aggregation, recorded in 1984 at their final performance. The African-inspired rhythms of the percussive, polyrhythmic quot;Thela Hun Ginjeetquot; and quot;Waiting Manquot; are contrasted by Belew's David Byrne-ish vocals as well as his and Fripp's guitar fireworks. Belew's arsenal of bizarre sounds blends with Tony Levin's high register Chapman Stick melodies to fine effect on quot;Elephant Talk.quot; the countryish (!) quot;Matte Kudasaiquot; is one of the group's loveliest ballads, achingly delivered. KC's venerated free-form fury is showcased well on quot;Industry, quot; quot;Dig Mequot; and quot;Lark's Tongues in Aspic.quot; ABSENT LOVERS offers a rare live view of one of the '80s most progressive (in the literal sense) bands.
