The Condensed 21st Century Guide to King Crimson (1969-2003)

'The Condensed 21st Century Guide to King Crimson (1969 – 2003)' is a 2CD compilation of 32 incredible tracks, with each of the two discs running almost to the complete 80 minute format capacity. The material is drawn from a catalogue spanning 13 studio albums (+ singles & mini albums), released between 1969 – 2003.

The set features material performed by 20 musicians from 6 line-ups (+ a transitional line-up), material honed, expanded, altered, improvised upon and often recorded at 871 concerts given on 3 continents. All this from one of rock music's longest running, consistently innovative and enduringly influential bands - King Crimson!

No individual compilation could ever hope to fully represent every aspect of a band with a history as long and varied as King Crimson, (the band's formidable live reputation is captured on several available recordings), so 'The Condensed Guide' focuses exclusively on studio recordings.

The compilation functions on any number of levels - an introduction for those new to the band, an overview for those familiar with some of the music, a straight-forward "Best of..." for those looking for a summary of the band's career to the 2003 compilation end point. (The current band line-up #7 has not released a studio recording.)

Few bands share Crimson's longevity; fewer still the broad sphere of influence that has accompanied it. Almost none has produced, as Crimson has, a classic studio recording in every decade from the 1960s onwards - from the debut 'In the Court of the Crimson King' (1969), to' Red' (1974), 'Discipline' (1981), 'THRAK' (1995) & 'The Power to Believe' (2003). Elements of King Crimson's sound, from various different points in the band's career, have become omni-present in modern rock music. Muse, Tool, Mars Volta, Dream Theater, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree - to name just a half dozen - all seem to owe an enormous sonic debt to King Crimson.

So the compilation acts as a timely reminder of both the history and the continuing relevance of King Crimson. As Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy put it recently: "Robert Fripp is still as daring and adventurous today as he was when he started King Crimson almost 40 years ago.”

'The Condensed Guide' acts both as a reminder of, and testament to, Crimson's central role in those decades of musical adventure.