King Crimson – Larks' Tongues In Aspic

Lot's of surface noise and as others have noted, it's mixed fairly low so need more volume. There's only one way to listen to this record and that's LOUD. Unfortunately with more volume comes louder surface noise, and the two don't balance well. It is a great sounding record given the original 1973 mix used, but truthfully I'd rather listen to my worn OG US pressing on Atlantic from 1973. It's much warmer and better balanced. Maybe it's because I'm so used to the way it sounds. Very possible.

Awesome sounding. I compared this CD to the Definive Edition and the vocals are much clearer. Sounds right.

While the 1st US pressing has the punch and fullness of the album, my ears definitely pick up on more clarity through the early UK pressing, especially through Jamie Muir's performance. It's interesting picking up on nuances that I've never noticed in one of my favorite albums of all time!

Also have to note, it's interesting that this is now labeled as a "repress", though it never was in the past. Still, early UK press, if not 2nd press (being that this is labeled as the same year of release), is fantastic!

this pressing accentuates the brutal dynamics and ups & downs of larks, paying absolute perfect justice to this gorgeous album. it is distorted at times because of the loudness of the mix yet the vinyl allows you to enjoy every bit of the soundscape as it was intended, nothing more than a perfect press with high quality packaging and a tastefully low price

As others have noted, this pressing is excellent. I haven’t compared it to a UK original, but it easily holds its own against the rest of my vinyl collection in terms of sound quality.
It plays loud, so you don’t need to crank the volume—resulting in minimal surface noise.
The low end is full and spacious, really fills the room.
Beautifully cut by George Piros.

How does this pressing compare to the 1st UK pressing A1-U, B1-U sonically?

Listening to my copy of this album on headphones while remembering Jamie Muir. It sounds absolutely terrific! Clarity, presence, definition. Not sure what others hear but it is glorious to my ears.

This was one of my go-to discs for demoing audio gear- I got a kick out the poor salesman's face when i kicks in :0)

This pressing is bloody great and blows my Island 2nd pressing out of the water (I gave that copy away). Dynamics are incredible and, once cranked (you really need to up the volume to get the full effect) you’ll have enough dynamic range to keep you more than happy.

This is what a good record sound like. People will disagree and have you searching for early or specific pressings - but there’s no need. Do something more fun instead. Go for a walk. Fuss a dog. You get the idea.

I'm typically biased towards original mixes as it's closer to the artist's intent, but also because modern mastering techniques seem to often tame the bite of guitars and bloat bass. That being said, this remix is the definitive version of the album for me. It's not a radical overhaul, but it is a notable improvement in every regard. It's more detailed and shines a lot on the intricacies of the music more than the original. Most of the time it really is in the fine nuances, but occasionally I hear things I don't recall hearing at all. It also sounds fuller, with more prominent yet very tasteful bass. Guitars and violins sound cleaner yet nothing approaching sterile. Drums seem to spread across the stereo spectrum more than as was obvious in the original. When the music gets busy and abrasive, nothing gets buried in the chaos. Lastly, while it's still very dynamic, as it needs to be for this album much more than most, I find myself reaching for the volume knob much less often, which I appreciate.

If you've already got an original mix copy and aren't obsessed with the album/band then you don't need this. The original mix is fine. If you don't own a copy, and don't mind paying more for it, then get this. I imagine the difference is obvious to those very familiar with the album, but subtle to those who aren't, but it is an improvement nevertheless.

For all of my praise directed towards the remix, it's the elemental mix that really seals the deal for me. While it's disappointing that two of the vocal tracks are absent, I assume it's because there was little to reveal. As for the others, I find it super interesting to hear stuff that was buried or otherwise removed from the final product. It's a totally different take on the album, shifing the focus to different elements of the music that weren't necessarily meant to draw your attention as much in the original.

My only complaint is that the folds at the bottom of the cover detached very quickly and this isn't the first time it has happened with a KC reissue. The vinyl itself is clean and quiet though, the and the cover looks nice. I also really like the labels on the vinyl itself.