THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: September 13, 2023

KING CRIMSON – Three Of A Perfect Pair

September 13, 2023 /

As the title suggests, this is the third in a trilogy of albums that launched King Crimson back into the spotlight after a period of inactivity. Discipline was a game changer of an album that made everyone in Progland sit up and take note. Beat was a tad more on the melodic side, with more commercial material. This album is the weakest of the three however, and Fripp closed the project after this.

Even so, this album does have its moments. The title track is a mix of commercial and the wild and wonderful. The single Sleepless with Tony Levins’ amazing Chapman stick playing was what this version of Crim was all about: weird and wonderful rhythms and beats with crazy Frippertronics wailing away. My favourite piece is Larks Tongues In Aspic 3. If you’re into Crim, then this is what you love. It’s seemingly wild and anarchic pieces of music, repeating guitar segments over and over, with beats and grooves to match. T

his is not my favourite KC album by any stretch, but it does have its moments.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE HANGMEN – s/t

September 13, 2023 /

You really had to wonder what record labels were doing at the end of the eighties. They signed up bands seemingly at random, put them in a studio to record an album, did nothing to promote the album, then duly dropped them not long after. This happened to so many bands at this time, someone should write a book on what the hell was going on.

Now, I’m not saying this was the best album in the world because it’s not, but surely somebody must have seen them at least play live before signing. What you get here is a stripped down, no nonsense, sleazy, barroom rock n’ roll record that owes more to the New York Dolls and punk than to the LA strip. The one thing it does have is a kick ass, in your face production courtesy of Vic Maile who produced the Motörhead albums that mattered. The songs that float my boat are the punk rock blast of Last Drive (which is a great uptempo party tune), and My Way (which is my favourite). A simple, but very loud rocker with a huge guitar sound.

If you like your rock n’ roll raw and untethered then this may be for you.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE STRANGER – Kaleidoscope

September 13, 2023 /

There is definitely something in the water in the land down under at the moment. There is such a great modern Prog community releasing some killer records right now. This album from The Stranger came out in 2020, and they have been together since 2013. The obvious comparison would be Dream Theater as there are definitely element of the band’s sound that compare. But take Dream Theater and add more modern djent vibes, those low end grooves, killer keyboard sounds, great vocal melodies and you get the picture.

Opener Eleventh Hour is more traditional Prog metal with the DTisms high in the list, but second track in The Gemini has way more modern grooves and sounds, I love the vocal on this one. Next up is my favourite, Jungles. This one has some awesome djent-style riffage, and I love the effortless transition into the more melodic middle section with a great short solo. Killer tune! What a superb bass groove at the start of Jester with a more laid back vibe, I love the harmonies and that choppy guitar riff is so cool. We close out Side 1 with the beautiful guitar instrumental Coming Home.

Side 2 kicks off with Siren. A killer choppy riff and groove, and a close call for favourite track. Superb tune with a wonderful middle section that even brings the funk. Creatures In The Canopy is next up and that bass groove opens into a very harmonic piece before the huge crunch of guitars dives in. The Devil You Don’t opens with a very eerie guitar before the modern metal riffage rips in, with added growling vocal that gives way to some serious progtastic harmony delights. The album closes out with the title track. The most old school sounding of them all, well until the power is turned anyway. I think it’s the vocal delivery and the slight folk vibe of the vocals that conjure up images of Peter Gabriel.

Well, I’m more than happy for Australia to keep knocking out bands as good as The Stranger, and I can’t wait for their next instalment.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑