Pop goes the syncopation

They will never be hip, but King Crimson will always occupy a special place at Songblague, having come along at such an impressionable time in my youth. Each phase of the band's life is fascinating, unique, and absolutely worth digging into (with the exception of their descent into cheezy prog metal during this decade). I'm sure more of their stuff will find its way into this space.

Here's an offering from their gamelan-inspired, vaguely new wave-ish early-'80s incarnation. Which is as frustrating as all their other eras because you can hear them reaching for something truly inspired and very nearly, but not quite, capturing it. I guess that's inevitable when you start with an aim and then go about creating a musical language to embody it. Still, there's a lot to admire in that.

I like this track because it's probably their best go at turning their 'band as super-syncopated instrument' aesthetic into something resembling a pop song. And an '80s one at that. Give 'em credit. Those are synth drums, and they don't sound completely ridiculous. Belew's cruddy lyrics are another matter. Bring those vox down, Mr. Engineer!

King Crimson - Waiting Man

(While we're at it, here's some footage of these Crims laying down a real brain-burner in France.)