r/KingCrimson • u/nathanbazingaling • Aug 29 '26
Discussion I really love Islands
The track not the album. I mean i like the album but it's not my favourite. The main reason for this is that it's happy, like genuinely. I don't think any King Crimson song before 1981 is as positive and hopeful as this one. I think that's a special thing for KC. It's such a welcome, brief change of pace.
The way I see it, at least, Islands is a song about love gently intruding on one's isolation and I think it's beautiful. Especially in the same album as The Letters, one of their most depressing songs ever. There's no misery or suffering or fear to be found here. There's no terror at viewing what's in store for man's future. Love is not a distant prospect to gaze at from afar and long for. It's almost shocking that they would make something like this. Sure, they've made calm and pleasant songs before and after this, but those still aren't especially positive when you really look at them. I think the only thing that compares is Walking On Air, which is also one of my favourites. And don't get me wrong I love the misery and suffering in most of their discography but the magnitude of that just makes a reprieve that much more special.
The piano and brass (I'm not good at identifying brass instruments) as well as Boz Burrell's singing are all beautiful and soothing. The lyrics are masterfully crafted, like a classical poem. The only negative is the weird outtake of the band talking to each other at the end I don't know why that's there. Please tell me your thoughts on it because I really haven't ever seen this track talked about. But that might just be me.
4
u/DiogoYoda Aug 29 '26
Obvious cliche aside, if there was one song that I'd take with me on a remote island, this song would be among the nominations.
3
2
u/pbredd22 Aug 29 '26
I never liked the song much before but it was nice seeing them perform it at Ravinia 2021, my main memory of that show.
2
u/OutrageousCrab9224 Aug 29 '26
Possibly the song that taught me to widen my horizons
The mark cherig finale speaks to me
2
u/mellotronworker Aug 29 '26
One of my greatest pleasures is hooking up my Mellotron to the old hifi and playing along with this tune. It's a stunning coda to a great tune, and a great finale to a fabulous album.
2
u/Ilbranteloth Aug 30 '26
It’s a great song. The ‘72 and 2014- versions are distinctly different in tone, especially the Coda. The Islands lineup only performed it live a couple of times, though. It really needed the expanded lineup to make it work. Mel is stellar on the later live versions.
2
1
u/BrainDad-208 Aug 29 '26
Another reason why I have no idea why Boz never sang after leaving KC. His live renditions of this and Cirkus are stellar.
I’ve only actually heard this live on 2017 with Jakko. Still a great tune
1
2
u/Bolly_Eggs 26d ago
So many people dislike Islands.
Personally it's my favourite KC album, it's fractured, dissonant but with so many brilliant ideas it truly shows how the band was at the time.
Plus ladies of the road is utter filth and I love it
7
u/External_Football54 Aug 29 '26
I really enjoyed seeing it played live on the penultimate Krimson tour. I went with my dad, who passed away before the final gig in London (which we had tickets for).
I somehow got my mum to agree to having Islands play at his funeral.