Review: BEAT – Live
BEAT – Live
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Blu-ray – Digital Label: InsideOut Music
Release: 2025
Text: Martien Koolen
First of all let me start by saying that if you are not a fan of King Crimson, then I think that this live album will not be something that you will cherish or even like… as all the nineteen songs on this live album are not really accessible – easy to “digest” – as they are complex, freaky and exacting. However, for lovers of experimental, progressive rock this album is a must and a challenge as well.
BEAT, consisting of Adrian Belew (guitar, vocals) (King Crimson), Tony Levin (bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) (King Crimson), Steve Vai (guitar) and Danny Carey (drums) (Tool), deliver an album that is an absolute musical revelation. This live album is a creative reinterpretation of the three iconic King Crimson albums: ‘Discipline’ (1981), ‘Beat’ (1982) and ‘Three Of A Perfect Pair’ (1984), featuring nineteen songs packed with polychromic rhythms, rugged guitar lines, hooks, riffs and that characteristic, distinct voice of Adrian Belew.
The highlights, for me at least, are Larks’ Tongues In Aspic, Part 111, where master guitarist Steve Vai really nails the complex opening licks for 100%, Waiting Man (a second to none song indeed), The Sheltering Sky (Vai is again superb here), Frame By Frame (check out the guitar interplay) and Elephant Talk with that lyrical tongue-twists!
But, in fact, the whole album is an out of this world musical experience, at least if you are a King Crimson fan, like I am. By the way, this special live release was captured from the band’s performance at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles and the sound is superb indeed with four guys playing at the top of their game indeed.
BEAT ‘Live’ is released in three configurations. A 3-LP set, a Blu-ray release accompanied by 2 CDs and a 12-page photo booklet, and lastly a limited collector’s edition that will contain the Blu-ray, 2 CDs, a bonus CD, and a 36-page artbook.
Tracks:
CD 1
01. Neurotica
02. Neal and Jack and Me
03. Heartbeat
04. Sartori in Tangier
05. Model Man
05. Industry
06. Dig Me
07. Man With an Open Heart
09. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part III
CD 2
01. Waiting Man
02. The Sheltering Sky
03. Sleepless
04. Frame By Frame
05. Matte Kudasai
06. Elephant Talk
07. Three of a Perfect Pair
08. Indiscipline
09. Red
10. Thela Hun Ginjeet
CD 3
01. Neurotica (Live in North America 2024)
02. Neal and Jack and Me (Live in North America 2024)
03. Heartbeat (Live in North America 2024)
04. Sartori in Tangier (Live in North America 2024)
05. Industry (Live in North America 2024)
06. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part III (Live in North America 2024)
07. Frame By Frame (Live in North America 2024)
08. Matte Kudasai (Live in North America 2024)
09. Elephant Talk (Live in North America 2024)
10. Three of a Perfect Pair (Live in North America 2024)
11. Indiscipline (Live in North America 2024)
12. Thela Hun Ginjeet (Live in North America 2024)
CD 4 – Blu-ray
01. Neurotica
02. Neal and Jack and Me
03. Heartbeat
04. Sartori in Tangier
05. Model Man
06. Dig Me
07. Man With an Open Heart
08. Industry
09. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part III
10. Waiting Man
11. The Sheltering Sky
12. Sleepless
13. Frame By Frame
14. Matte Kudasai
15. Elephant Talk
16. Three of a Perfect Pair
17. Indiscipline
18. Red
19. Thela Hun Ginjeet
20. Crew Arrives
21. Beginning Tour Interview
22. Mid Tour Interview
23. End Tour Interview
Website: https://beat-tour.com/