Lightning rarely strikes twice in rock and roll. After all, most bands that reunite after several years of inactivity are unable to surpass their finest work. But seven years after its breakup, King Crimson - which in the 1970s was synonymous with complex experimental rock -forged ahead once again with a fresh sound and vision.
For its landmark 1981 album, Discipline, the band (guitarists Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, bassist Tony Levin, and drummer Bill Bruford) drew its inspiration from a staggering range of sources: The rhythmically complex drum music of west Africa, the hypnotic music of minimalist pioneers Phillip Glass and Steve Reich, and the quirky art-funk of new wave pioneers The Talking Heads. The result is a stunning, highly original mix of songs, all of which evoke the complexity of the album cover's knot pattern.
On Discipline, King Crimson explores a wide range of sounds, from the volatile stop-start dynamics of "Indiscipline," to the nervous funk of "Thela Hun Ginjeet," to the sublimely delicate ballad, "Matte Kudasai." Few bands in rock and roll have been able to portray so many different moods in one album, but throughout Discipline, King Crimson remains true to its distinctive sound.
The band's constancy owes a lot to the incredible musicianship of its original members. In "Elephant Talk," the album's opener, Fripp's droning, heavily processed guitar lines, Belew's abrasive, noisy guitar squeals (which imitate the sound of an elephant), Levin's driving bass playing, and Bruford's intricate polyrhythmic drumming combine to create an intense, beautiful groove. Amidst the furious musical activity, Belew speaks some of his wittiest lyrics: "Talk, it's only talk/arguments, advice, answers, articulate announcements, it's only talk."
In addition to being a well-rounded album, Discipline is also a revolutionary work of art. One of the first rock bands to incorporate the guitar synthesizer in its sound, King Crimson creates otherworldly musical textures previously unheard in rock music. In the instrumental track, "The Sheltering Sky," for example, the band creates a mood of meditative ambience by dubbing several guitar loops over a haunting Fripp solo. Nearly every electronica artist that came out within the last 20 years has subsequently used this technique - who else was doing it in 1981?
On Discipline, King Crimson reached a daunting level of genius equaled by few other rock bands. Still a groundbreaking album 20 years after its initial release, it has influenced countless numbers of well-known rock bands including Tool, Dream Theater, and Primus. Discipline's liner notes state: "Discipline is never an end in itself, only a means to an end." Looks like it pays off: On this album, the end product is nothing short of incredible.
