Box Set: The ProjeKcts
Release Date 10/26/1999
The ProjeKcts were/are devised as 'research units' to find possible futures for the fuller Crimson line-up. This box comprises the four live discs and kicks off with Jazz Café (KC have an amazing ability to play the most unlikely places). Head banging improv of the first track (all of which have numerate titles eg. 4 i ii) sees Fripp in inspired frenzy mode. The fifth though recalls a tranquility similar to the better tuneful soundscapes and the First Day period with David Sylvian. ProjeKct 2's mania has Adrian Belew trying out drums whilst Fripp and Gunn handle fretwork. The final here is a warts and all account of the battle between band and photographer (Fripp hates being photographed on stage - unless invited). Band wins thus making a 3-4 minute piece eleven! West Coast is also invigorating; if you liked Fripp and Mastelotto's Sabre Dance from DGM's overview Sometimes God Hides, chances are you'll love this as it expands upon the zonked out dance and trippy Frippy grooves and scapes respectively. Aided by Gunn and Tony Levin, this is almost the line-up that now makes up the actual KC. -- Kelvin Hayes (allmusic.com)

King Crimson
ProjeKct Four - West Coast Live

Discipline    DGM9913-D  (1999)
Recording Date   1998

Rock/Pop
CD, 12   Tracks, 56:49  Length
Ghost (part 1) 24:22
01 Ghost (part 1) 1 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 09:14
02 Ghost (part 1) 2 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 04:07
03 Ghost (part 1) 3 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 05:55
04 Ghost (part 1) 4 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 05:06
05 Deception of the Thrush Adrian Belew; Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn 07:12
06 Hindu Fizz Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 04:46
07 ProjeKction Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 05:29
Ghost (part 2) 15:00
08 Ghost (part 2) 1 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 02:43
09 Ghost (part 2) 2 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 01:39
10 Ghost (part 2) 3 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 03:53
11 Ghost (part 2) 4 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 01:48
12 Ghost (part 2) 5 Robert Fripp; Trey Gunn; Tony Levin; Pat Mastelotto 04:57
Music Details
Product Details
Packaging Box Set
Live Yes
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Musicians  &  Credits
Guitar Robert Fripp
Bass Trey Gunn
Bass Tony Levin
Drums Pat Mastelotto
Musician ProjeKct Four
Producer David Singleton; Robert Fripp
Cover by Hugh O'Donnell
Personal Details
Index # 1803
Owner Dave
Tags Art Rock, Avantgarde
User Defined
Purchased New
Notes
ProjeKct Four, the final "fractalization" (but, enigmatically, the third to be performed publicly) of King Crimson, is mainstay Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Pat Mastelotto, and Tony Levin. Where ProjeKct One (subtract Mastelotto, add Bill Bruford on drums) ventured deep into space-jazz territory, and ProjeKct Three (again, subtract Mastelotto from the ensemble, but this time add no one) explored the improvisatory possibilities of the power trio; ProjeKct Four is a full-out stomping, raging beast of a band. The bulk of the album is one long track, "Ghost," split into eight distinct sections, four of each acting as bookends of the album. Obviously improvised, the collective falter occasionally, but for the most part skip across genres with nimble acuity. Gunn and Fripp trade solos, Mastelotto creates percussion loops on the fly with one hand while playing around a beat with the other, and Levin holds everything together with one of the fattest bass tones he's ever recorded. "Deception of the Thrush" appears as well, and it's a fantastic rendition, easily outstripping Crimson's version on the "Level Five" EP. Fripp's solo on this track, which is beautiful on other renditions of the song, is truly breath-taking here. Add Levin's groovy bass and Mastelotto's slow pounding to the mix, and this easily becomes of the best tracks produced by any of the Projekcts. While the accusation of "noodling" could be leveled at any of the Projekcts (One, especially), ProjeKct Four is probably the least noodly of them all. For Crimson fans, this is an essential purchase, for everyone else, you could do a lot worse. This is excellent stuff. -- James Mason (allmusic.com)