The Great Deceiver cover

The Great Deceiver

King Crimson · 1992

295 min · 47 tracks · progressive rock · psychedelic rock · art rock

A sprawling collage of improvisation and intricate compositions that defy genre boundaries.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic exploration of soundscapes
  • wave-like pacing with peaks
  • immersive improvisational listening experience
  • patient unfolding of complex themes
  • engaging late-night deep dives

Maybe skip if you want

  • seeking quick, catchy tracks
  • prefer predictable song structures

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1992, 'The Great Deceiver' captures King Crimson's live energy during a period of artistic resurgence. This album follows their earlier acclaimed work, 'Discipline' (1981), marking their return to the stage after nearly a decade. It showcases the band's evolving sound and lineup, featuring both classic tracks and extended improvisations.
Stylistic neighbors
Yes· Genesis· Frank Zappa

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Walk On… No Pussyfooting 0:48
  • 2 Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two 6:24
  • 3 Lament 4:38
  • 4 Exiles 8:57
  • 5 Improv: A Voyage to the Centre of the Cosmos 15:03
  • 6 Easy Money 7:12
  • 7 Improv: Providence 10:18
  • 8 Fracture 11:14
  • 9 Starless 12:03

Disc 2

  • 1 21st Century Schizoid Man 8:26
  • 2 Walk Off From Providence / No Pussyfooting 2:11
  • 3 Sharks’ Lungs in Lemsip 2:31
  • 4 Larks’ Tongues in Aspic 7:49
  • 5 Book of Saturday 3:02
  • 6 Easy Money 6:41
  • 7 We’ll Let You Know 4:54
  • 8 The Night Watch 5:17
  • 9 Improv: Tight Scrummy 8:58
  • 10 Peace: A Theme 1:01
  • 11 Cat Food 4:36
  • 12 Easy Money 2:20
  • 13 …It Is for You, but Not for Us 9:10

Disc 3

  • 1 Walk On… No Pussyfooting 0:58
  • 2 The Great Deceiver 4:26
  • 3 Improv: Bartley Butsford 3:12
  • 4 Exiles 7:19
  • 5 Improv: Daniel Dust 4:09
  • 6 The Night Watch 4:39
  • 7 Doctor Diamond 5:11
  • 8 Starless 12:25
  • 9 Improv: Wilton Carpet 5:52
  • 10 The Talking Drum 5:29
  • 11 Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two 4:07
  • 12 Applause & Announcement 2:12
  • 13 Improv: Is There Life Out There? 14:49

Disc 4

  • 1 Improv: The Golden Walnut 11:46
  • 2 The Night Watch 4:37
  • 3 Fracture 11:51
  • 4 Improv: Clueless and Slightly Slack 8:12
  • 5 Walk On… No Pussyfooting 0:53
  • 6 Improv: Some Pussyfooting 2:26
  • 7 Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part One 8:16
  • 8 Improv: The Law of Maximum Distress, Part One 6:31
  • 9 Improv: The Law of Maximum Distress, Part Two 2:33
  • 10 Easy Money 7:32
  • 11 Improv: Some More Pussyfooting 5:53
  • 12 The Talking Drum 6:02

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata