ConstrucKtion of Light

Dunno how I missed the release of this and their several other albums in the past year (It's been a busy year, I haven't really kept up with music enough!). ConstruKction of Light is a typical KC album. Brilliant, eclectic, and full of sharp turns. If you wonder where bands like Tool and NIN got their first thrills, it was listening to KC. CoL starts of with a Delta influenced track with some great vocalizations called ProzaKc Blues, and then launches into the overwhelming title tracks (track two and three are both the same name, Fripp is not exactly a traditionalist).

KC have pushed the mix of aggressive rock into whole new areas and their technical wizardry remains brilliant. Many people associate Progressive Rock with tedious 20 minute pieces of new-agey stuff with lots of World Music influence or monotonous dirges. At least in KC's case, this is not so. There is tremendous variation and with rare exception there is strong and fast forward momentum. The songs actually GO somewhere, a nice change from most of popular music today. KC has also made astounding use of polyrhythms (largely thanks to the unique "double trio" makeup of the band). CoL leans more to the experimental than, for example, Thrak, as much as any KC album can be said to be more experimental than another. It lacks anything with the catchiness of "Dinosaur" or "Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream" to ensnare the casual or new listener, but is chock full of more challenging works that will delight fans and really anyone who enjoys challenging music. This has some of their most amazing work in years.