Three of a Perfect Pair cover

Three of a Perfect Pair

Released

The third entry in King Crimson’s early-1980s trilogy and the last album made by the Fripp-Belew-Levin-Bruford configuration feels more willfully opaque than the first two, and more sonically compressed. The title track is a romantic lament, mixed densely and claustrophobically; “Sleepless” feels desperate, while “Industry” is a clattery, grinding tone poem. “Man with an Open Heart” is the closest thing to a pop song here, but it’s a cry of despair. This is objectively excellent music, but not as enjoyable a listen as either Discipline or Beat, the first two albums recorded by this manifestation of the band.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Works 2011-14 cover

Works 2011-14

Devin Maxwell
Offering cover

Offering

Surge and the Swell
Reclamation cover

Reclamation

Burning Ghosts
The Butterfly cover

The Butterfly

Martin Hayes, Brooklyn Rider
Feel Free cover

Feel Free

Duane Pitre
Double You cover

Double You

Catrin Finch, Aoife Ní Bhríain
Home cover

Home

Procol Harum
Messages & Portraits cover

Messages & Portraits

Giovanni Venosta, Roberto Musci