VA - The Letters, An Unconventional Italian Guide To King Crimson [2004] (3 x CDs)

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

VA - The Letters, An Unconventional Italian Guide To King Crimson [2004] (3 x CDs)

Released in 2004 by Mellow Records, The Letters is a 3CD tribute compilation that reimagines the King Crimson canon through the lens of Italian progressive rock. It’s not just a tribute, it’s a full-bodied reinterpretation, with 30 Italian bands covering material from 1969 to 1995, excluding only Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair.

The set is divided into three thematic discs:

CD1: “Virtuous Circle (Including: Entry Of The Chameleons)” explores Crimson’s angular and experimental side, with tracks like “Frame by Frame,” “Doctor Diamond,” and “Discipline.”

CD2: “When I Say Stop, Continue (Including: No Photo, No Recording, No Smoking)” leans into the lyrical and symphonic, featuring “Epitaph,” “Moonchild,” and “In the Court of the Crimson King.”

CD3: “1974 EP - This Night Wounds Time” is a shorter, darker dive into pieces like “Red,” “Fracture,” and “Lament”.

What sets this compilation apart is its stylistic diversity. Artists like Stefano Bollani, Germinale, and Tilion don’t mimic, they reinterpret, blending jazz-rock, symphonic prog, and avant-garde textures. The result is a set that feels unified yet eclectic, with Italy’s signature warmth and melodic sensibility woven throughout

Produced by M. Moroni, M. Giordano, A. Mariotti, and D. Pivato, and mastered by M. Olivotti, the sound is crisp and respectful of the originals while allowing room for creative expansion. Though packaging is modest, the concept is rich: a nationally curated homage that’s both scholarly and passionate.

For Crimson fans and prog collectors, The Letters is a rare gem, a cultural translation that proves the band’s influence is as global as it is enduring. It’s a tribute with teeth, heart, and unmistakable Italian flair. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Stefano Bollani - Frame By Frame 3:10

02 Germinale - Diamond Diamond 5:32

03 Nema Niko - The Talking Drum 7:28

04 Spirosfera - Cat Food 4:07

05 Roversi Caimi Menotti - Discipline 5:23

06 Soundvision - One More Red Nightmare 6:40

07 Anatrofobia - The Sailor's Tale 5:02

08 Tilion - One Time 9:11

09 Taproban - Lark's Tongues in Aspic Part 2 6:28

10 Three of A Charming Pair - Inner Garden I and Ii 6:02

11 Prophexy - The Great Deceiver 3:56

12 Giardini D'autunno - Formentera Lady 8:40

13 Psychonoesis - Starless 7:28

CD2

01 Goad - Epitaph 8:59

02 Costa Mombrini Piazzi - Lady of The Dancing Water 3:47

03 Jet Lag - Pictures of A City 7:24

04 Ubi Maior - Prince Rupert Awakes 4:50

05 L'imbroglio - Providence 5:06

06 Malibran - I Talk to The Wind 5:13

07 Floating State - Exiles 8:34

08 Notturno Concertante - Cadence and Cascade 5:02

09 Greenwall - Lark's Tongues in Aspic Part 1 13:07

10 Caboto - Moonchild 3:17

11 Slowmovies - Matte Kudasai 4:37

12 Zaq - In The Court of The Crimson King 6:55

13 Mariposa - Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream 4:23

CD3

01 Mosaic Orchestra - Red 5:13

02 Comfort - We'll Let You Know & Fracture 11:17

03 Nodo Gordiano - Lament 4:02

04 Aria Palea - The Great Deceiver 5:56

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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