King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon
I’ve just finished remixing King Crimson’s In the Wake of Poseidon for its 2009 40th anniversary reissue, working with Robert Fripp to create new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes, alongside the single B-side Groon. Released in 1970, this album is a remarkable chapter in King Crimson’s story, born out of Robert’s sheer determination to keep the band alive after the original lineup dissolved in December 1969, just weeks after In the Court of the Crimson King. Melody Maker’s headline at the time, “If Wagner were alive he’d work with King Crimson,” captures the album’s bold ambition. Stranger still, this came two months after the band appeared on Top of the Pops miming Cat Food, a single from a group that, by all accounts, no longer existed.
For Poseidon, Robert brought back departing members Michael Giles and Greg Lake, along with Peter Giles from Giles, Giles & Fripp, as guest musicians, and enlisted Keith Tippett, Mel Collins, and Gordon Haskell, all of whom would shape future Crimson albums. The result was a record that hit No. 4 on the UK charts—the band’s highest placement to date—and cemented King Crimson’s reputation as a groundbreaking force in the underground scene. To me, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a band that shouldn’t have been, yet delivered something enduring and unique.
Working from the original session tapes, the new stereo mix sharpens the album’s textures, while the 5.1 surround mix immerses you in its experimental scope, from the delicate Peace suite to the ferocious Devil’s Triangle. The tapes for some tracks, like the title track, were in great shape, letting us uncover details dulled in earlier versions, though others, like Devil’s Triangle, were missing, making this a bit of a patchwork effort compared to In the Court.
The CD/DVD-A package makes this the most comprehensive edition of In the Wake of Poseidon yet. The CD includes the new stereo mix, alternate takes, and an alternate version of Devil’s Triangle previously featured in limited releases. The DVD-A offers the 5.1 surround mix, a high-resolution stereo version of the new mix, a high-resolution version of the original album mix from the 30th anniversary master, and nearly an hour of additional material, including previously unreleased studio takes from the sessions, mixed specifically for this release by Alex R Mundy.
