King Crimson
Lizard (Expanded Edition)
Album · Prog-Rock/Art Rock · 1970
The only album to feature bassist Gordon Haskell and drummer Andy McCulloch, 1970’s Lizard is unique within King Crimson’s catalogue. Led by Haskell’s mellow vocals, “Cirkus” builds slowly to a churning, doom-laden groove. The first passage of the title track is one of Robert Fripp’s most beautiful refrains, as his backwards guitar licks the edges of a disarmingly tuneful hook. Towards the end, the disjointed fanfares of “Bolero – the Peacock’s Tale” give way to “The Big Top,” a forlorn fantasia that offers epilogue to a circuslike reverie.