KING CRIMSON | In Concert | Live at Alabamahalle | Munich, Germany | September 29, 1982

King Crimson are heard wrapping up their summer of 1982 tour on this 70-minute set from September 29 at the Alabamahalle in Munich, Germany. The '80s incarnation of the band boasted the formidable skills of Adrian Belew (guitar/vocal), Robert Fripp (guitar), Tony Levin (bass guitar/Stick/vocals), and Bill Bruford (drums/percussion). The set list consists primarily of material off of Discipline (1981) and their most recent release Beat (1982) -- the sole exception being the "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2" closer. A potent "Waiting Man" commences the festivities with Belew switching off instrumentally between guitar and percussion. Crimson enthusiasts will note Levin's support vocals are presented with slightly more prominence. Here, his often underrated contributions alongside Belew are for once brought to the fore. "Frame by Frame" serves up another prime example of Levin's capacity in this role and is likewise notable for the improvised soundscape-esque introduction. The lolloping ballad "Matte Kudasai" is glazed over with a presumably intentional harmonizing and distortion on Belew's swooning and sliding electric guitar. A similar effect creates a disorienting razor-like edge with Fripp's penetrating fretwork during the ten-minute sojourn "The Sheltering Sky." Belew, preludes "Neal and Jack and Me" with the stage announcement "... from our latest LP called Beat ... " before the quartet dive into a tight, compact, and inspired reading that is suitable for framing. Another very short tone probe (note: listen for the unmistakable quotes from the "Twilight Zone" theme) instigates a fire and brimstone version of "Elephant Talk," which stands as one of the absolute highlights of Live in Munich, 1982. Belew and Fripp trade off as they snicker, sneer and spur their bandmates into an unsettling, yet cathartic rendering that conjures correlations to Lewis Carroll's "A Mad Tea Party." Even Belew's vocals have a challenging, knife-like quality that lets all within earshot know that he means business. Attendees definitely pick up on the vibe as evidenced by the eruption of applause and encouragement. Bruford takes over for several minutes prior to locking into the familiar rhythm patterns of "Indiscipline." The raw unapologetic face scraping intro is nothing short of a duel between Fripp and Belew. It is all that Levin and Bruford can do to batten down the proverbial hatches, playing as if their very lives depended on it. The double-barrel encore offers up the easily accessible pop of "Heartbeat" followed by a sole journey through the past on a loose and limber "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2." The concert was filmed professionally and comprises about 40 minutes of condensation featuring "Waiting Man," "Matte Kudasai," "Neal and Jack and Me," as well as fragments of "Indiscipline" and "Heartbeat" aired on German television and excellent copies of the broadcast circulate among the faithful.

00:00 Waiting Man

09:22 Matte Kudasai

13:07 The Sheltering Sky

23:42 Neal and Jack and Me

29:34 Indiscipline

36:48 Heartbeat

Robert Fripp — guitar

Adrian Belew — guitar, vocals

Tony Levin — bass, chapman stick

Bill Bruford — drums, percussion