Meltdown: Live in Mexico City

Last updated

Meltdown: Live in Mexico City
King Crimson Meltdown cover.jpg
Live album by
Released20 October 2018
Recorded14–19 July 2017
Venue Teatro Metropólitan in Mexico City
Genre Progressive rock
Length218:07
Label Discipline Global Mobile
Producer Bill Rieflin (mix production), Robert Fripp, David Singleton
King Crimson chronology
Live in Vienna
(2018)
Meltdown: Live in Mexico City
(2018)
Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany
(2021)

Meltdown: Live in Mexico City is a Blu-ray and triple-disc CD live album by the English progressive rock band King Crimson. Recorded over five nights in July 2017, Meltdown was released on 20 October 2018 and was produced by the band's keyboardist Bill Rieflin from Multitrack recordings. The release was announced in August 2018 and was preceded by streaming of the track "Indiscipline" on 4 October. [1] [2]

Contents

Content

Comprising three compact discs and a Blu-ray, Meltdown: Live in Mexico City is a robust package documenting an incarnation of King Crimson that the group's founder Robert Fripp described as "the best band I’ve been in, musically, personally, professionally." [3] The three CDs distill King Crimson's five concerts in Mexico City from 14 to 19 July 2017 down to three and a half hours, and the Blu-ray video further condenses the performances to two and a half hours. [4] [5]

Meltdown marked the first release to feature recordings of the band's extended lineup playing "Breathless", "Discipline", "Moonchild" and the cadenzas of Tony Levin and Jeremy Stacey. [4] These recordings are taken from concerts during the band's June–July 2018 European tour, and are featured at the end of the third disc as the 2018 Official Bootleg.

In his road diary, Levin surmised that the series of concerts would impact how the band played in the future. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]

Writing for All About Jazz , John Kelman praised Meltdown, highlighting the video recording of the performance as well-edited. [7] He considered the release an improvement on 2016's similar box set, Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind . [7]

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleWritersLength
1."Walk On" Robert Fripp, Mel Collins, Tony Levin 3:46
2."Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One"Fripp, David Cross, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Jamie Muir 9:28
3."Neurotica"Fripp, Adrian Belew, Bruford, Levin4:57
4."Cirkus"Fripp, Peter Sinfield 7:40
5."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part I: Dawn Song)Fripp, Sinfield2:19
6."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part II: Last Skirmish)Fripp, Sinfield6:10
7."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part III: Prince Rupert's Lament)Fripp, Sinfield2:30
8."The Hell Hounds of Krim" Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto, Bill Rieflin 3:42
9."Red"Fripp6:42
10."Fallen Angel"Fripp, Wetton, Richard Palmer-James 6:08
11."Islands"Fripp, Sinfield9:02
12."The Talking Drum"Fripp, Cross, Muir, Wetton, Bruford3:48
13."Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two"Fripp7:02
Total length:73:14
Disc two
No.TitleWritersLength
1."Indiscipline"Fripp, Belew, Bruford, Levin7:59
2."The ConstruKction of Light" (Part I only)Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, Trey Gunn 6:05
3."Epitaph"Fripp, Sinfield, Greg Lake, Michael Giles, Ian McDonald 8:33
4."Banshee Legs Bell Hassle"Harrison, Mastelotto, Rieflin1:40
5."Easy Money"Fripp, Wetton, Palmer-James9:56
6."Interlude"Fripp2:47
7."The Letters"Fripp, Sinfield6:12
8."The Sailor's Tale"Fripp6:24
9."CatalytiKc No. 9"Harrison, Mastelotto, Jeremy Stacey 1:12
10."Meltdown"Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk 4:22
11."Radical Action II"Fripp2:28
12."Level Five"Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, Gunn7:08
13."Starless"Fripp, Bruford, Cross, Wetton, Palmer-James12:46
Total length:77:32
Disc three
No.TitleWritersLength
1."Peace – An End"Fripp, Sinfield1:56
2."Pictures of a City"Fripp, Sinfield8:22
3."Devil Dogs of Tessellation Row"Harrison, Mastelotto, Rieflin3:10
4."Fracture"Fripp11:03
5."The Court of the Crimson King"Sinfield, McDonald7:03
6."'Heroes'" David Bowie, Brian Eno 4:42
7."21st Century Schizoid Man"Fripp, Sinfield, Lake, McDonald, Giles13:13
8."Discipline"Fripp, Belew, Levin, Bruford5:29
9."Moonchild"Fripp, Sinfield, Lake, McDonald, Giles2:27
10."Tony's Cadenza"Levin1:20
11."Jeremy's Cadenza"Stacey1:06
12."Breathless"Fripp4:59
13."Cool Jam" 2:31
Total length:67:35
Blu-ray video
No.TitleLength
1."Walk On"3:28
2."Neurotica"4:51
3."Pictures of a City"8:23
4."Cirkus"7:34
5."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part I: Dawn Song)2:19
6."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part II: Last Skirmish)6:10
7."Lizard" (The Battle of Glass Tears – Part III: Prince Rupert's Lament)2:26
8."Epitaph"8:31
9."Devil Dogs of Tessellation Row"3:09
10."Fracture"11:05
11."Islands"10:10
12."Indiscipline"8:03
13."Peace – An End"1:56
14."Easy Money"9:55
15."Interlude"2:47
16."The Letters"6:13
17."The Sailor's Tale"6:23
18."CatalytiKc No. 9"1:13
19."Fallen Angel"6:00
20."The Talking Drum"3:48
21."Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two"6:51
22."Starless"13:24
23."The Hell Hounds of Krim"3:39
24."21st Century Schizoid Man"13:58
Total length:152:16

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes [8]

King Crimson

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9] 58
Italian Albums (FIMI) [10] 84
Scottish Albums (OCC) [11] 48

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Crimson</span> English progressive rock band

King Crimson were a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band drew inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experimental music and new wave. They exerted a strong influence on the early 1970s progressive rock movement, including on contemporaries such as Yes and Genesis, and continue to inspire subsequent generations of artists across multiple genres. The band earned a large cult following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Fripp</span> British guitarist, composer, record producer, and author

Robert Fripp is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session musician and collaborator, notably with David Bowie, Blondie, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, Midge Ure, Talking Heads, and David Sylvian. He also composed the startup sound of Windows Vista operating system, in collaboration with Tucker Martine and Steve Ball. His discography includes contributions to over 700 official releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Rieflin</span> American musician (1960–2020)

William Frederick Rieflin was an American musician. Rieflin came to prominence in the 1990s mainly for his work as a drummer with groups such as Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, Lard, KMFDM, Pigface, Swans, Chris Connelly, and Nine Inch Nails. He worked regularly with R.E.M. following the retirement of Bill Berry in 1997. He was a member of King Crimson from 2013 until his death in 2020.

<i>In the Court of the Crimson King</i> 1969 studio album by King Crimson

In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 by Island Records. The album is one of the earliest and most influential of the progressive rock genre, where the band combined the musical influences that rock music was founded upon with elements of jazz, classical, and symphonic music.

<i>Discipline</i> (King Crimson album) 1981 studio album by King Crimson

Discipline is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released on 22 September 1981 by E.G. Records in the United Kingdom and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States.

<i>King Crimson on Broadway</i> 1999 live album by King Crimson

King Crimson On Broadway is a live album by the band King Crimson, released through the King Crimson Collectors' Club in July 1999. The tracks on the albums were recorded at the Longacre Theater in New York City, New York, US, on November 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25, 1995, as the band was touring to promote the album THRAK.

"Thela Hun Ginjeet" is a single by the band King Crimson, released in 1981 and on the album Discipline (1981). The song name is an anagram of "heat in the jungle", which is a reference to crime in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larks' Tongues in Aspic (instrumental)</span> Suite of music by King Crimson, 1973–2003

"Larks' Tongues in Aspic" is a suite of music by the English progressive rock band King Crimson. Spanning thirty years and four albums, the series comprises five parts, all of which carry unifying musical motifs. Parts I and II were released as the introductory and final tracks on King Crimson's 1973 album of the same name, part III was featured on their 1984 album Three of a Perfect Pair, part IV appeared on 2000's The Construkction of Light, and the final part, "Level Five", was included on the 2003 album The Power to Believe. Despite breaking the naming convention, Robert Fripp, King Crimson founder and only constant contributor to the suite, insists that "Level Five" is part of the pentalogy.

<i>The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume Two – 1981–2003</i> 2005 box set by King Crimson

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume Two – 1981–2003 is a compilation album by the highly influential English progressive rock band King Crimson, containing the best-known songs from the group's 1981–2003 phase. No material from the album the construKction of light (2000) was included in this box set. It was released in 2005.

<i>Neal and Jack and Me</i> (King Crimson DVD) 2004 video by King Crimson

Neal and Jack and Me is a live DVD by the British progressive rock band King Crimson, released in 2004. It is a compilation of two vintage concerts by the band in the 1980s, The Noise: Live in Frejus and Three of a Perfect Pair: Live in Japan. Both concert videos were originally released on Betamax and VHS.

<i>Vrooom Vrooom</i> 2001 live album by King Crimson

Vrooom Vrooom is a live two CD set by the band King Crimson, recorded in 1995 & 1996, and released in 2001. It features the six member “double trio” lineup of the band, with guitarists Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, bassists Tony Levin and Trey Gunn, and drummers Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto.

<i>A Scarcity of Miracles</i> 2011 studio album by Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins

A Scarcity of Miracles is the lone album by Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins, released in 2011. It united singer and guitarist Jakko Jakszyk with three musicians best known from King Crimson, guitarist Robert Fripp, saxophonist Mel Collins and bassist/Chapman Stick player Tony Levin. Porcupine Tree member Gavin Harrison was featured on drums. Jakszyk and Harrison would go on to participate together in the next incarnation of King Crimson.

<i>Live at the Orpheum</i> 2015 live album by King Crimson

Live at the Orpheum is a live album by the band King Crimson, released by Discipline Global Mobile records in 2015. The album was recorded on 30 September and 1 October at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California on the band's The Elements of King Crimson US tour of 2014.

<i>Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind</i> 2016 box set by King Crimson

Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind is a box set of live performances by King Crimson, released on 2 September 2016. It is the first full-length release by the seven member incarnation of the group that formed in 2013.

<i>Live in Toronto</i> (King Crimson album) 2016 live album by King Crimson

Live in Toronto is a live album by the band King Crimson, released by Discipline Global Mobile records in 2016. The album was recorded on 20 November at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Canada during the band's The Elements of King Crimson tour of 2015. It is the second full-length release by the current seven-piece incarnation of the band and featured new compositions never before released by the band on record.

<i>Live in Chicago</i> (King Crimson album) 2017 live album by King Crimson

Live in Chicago, or Official Bootleg: Live in Chicago, June 28, 2017, is a live album by the English progressive rock band King Crimson, released through Discipline Global Mobile records on 14 October 2017. The album was recorded on 28 June at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois during the band's 2017 United States tour. It is the first full-length release by the eight-piece incarnation of the band and features new songs and rearrangements of compositions mostly from the early 1970s.

<i>Live in Vienna</i> (King Crimson album) 2017 live album by King Crimson

Live in Vienna, or Live in Vienna, December 1, 2016, is a triple-disc live album by the English progressive rock band King Crimson, originally released in a limited capacity in Japan as Live in Vienna 2016 + Live in Tokyo 2015 on 27 September 2017. The expanded album, just titled Live in Vienna, was released through Discipline Global Mobile on 6 April 2018.

<i>Larks Tongues in Aspic</i> (box set) 2012 box set by King Crimson

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the second of the major box set releases from English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in 2012 by Discipline Global Mobile & Panegyric Records. The set is devoted to all existing recordings associated with the 1973 album Larks' Tongues In Aspic.

THRAK is the fifth of the major box set releases from English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in 2015 by Discipline Global Mobile & Panegyric Records.

References

  1. "King Crimson: 'Meltdown in Mexico – Live in Mexico City 2017' with 3+ Hours of Music Coming Soon". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Watch: Here's Pro-Shot Footage of King Crimson's 3-Drummer Lineup Playing 'Indiscipline'". Ultimate Guitar . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  3. Smith, Sid. "Meltdown Out Now!". Discipline Global Mobile . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Sid. "Meltdown in Mexico". Discipline Global Mobile . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  5. Munro, Scott. "King Crimson Add Dates to Uncertain Times UK Tour". Louder Sound . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  6. Levin, Tony. "King Crimson 2017 Tour Pt. 1, Mexico Shows 4&5". tonylevin.com. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Kelman, John. "King Crimson: Meltdown (Live in Mexico City)". All About Jazz . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  8. Meltdown: Live in Mexico City (CD liner notes). King Crimson. Discipline Global Mobile. 2018. KCXP5005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – King Crimson – Meltdown – Live in Mexico City" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  10. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 43 (dal 2018-10-19 al 2018-10-25)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2018.