“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” was recorded from mid-January to early February and released in late March 1973. It became one of King Crimson’s most acclaimed albums and established its reputation as a key album of one of the most significant years in rock music.

Almost half a century after its release, Steven Wilson has mixed the album in Dolby Atmos, creating new stereo and 5.1 mixes. The new stereo and 5.1 mixes – no doubt influenced by the more adventurous mixing techniques allowed by the Atmos process – have a very different approach, more expansive than the earlier mixes released in 2012, while retaining and enhancing the intrinsic power of the original material.

The Atmos mixes allow a new look at the enormous range of the respective material and performances recorded for the album. The key to understanding this album, which the Atmos mix shows most clearly, is that this music has always been a large, complex, interwoven series of soundscapes.

While the album was released in 1973, in stereo on vinyl, CD and 8-track cassettes, it was only the stereo and surround mixes of 2012 and now the Atmos/Elemental/Complete Sessions mixes that have allowed the material to be presented in its fullest possible extent for home use with all the mixing and audio options available.

While Steven worked on this aspect of the material, Alex R. Mundy and David Singleton at DGM mixed every single take of the original studio sessions. These unreleased early takes are not presented as traditionally mixed pieces, but with maximum separation to mimic the experience of sitting in the studio while the individual elements are played spatially spoken around the listener.

The “Elemental Mixes” apply the same approach to the takes of the main album. An excitingly fresh look at the familiar, with the focus often in unusual places, some originally hidden, others unused. Four of the album’s core tracks are included: extended mixes of Larks’ 1 and Talking Drum, and Easy Money & Larks’ 2.

Included on the second Blu-ray is every single session recording from the original studio files, all remixed from the multi-track tapes and presented in order of recording date, in hi-res stereo, a vast collection of previously unheard studio material from the seminal recording.

Also included on this disc are the original album mix (30th anniversary master) and the audio documentary “Keep that one, Nick” that David Singleton put together for the 2012 box set. These two recordings are the only previously released tracks on this set.

It’s no coincidence that many of the tracks on the album have become staples in the performances of recent King Crimson line-ups. The material, first performed to unsuspecting concertgoers in 1972, first recorded and released in 1973 and loved by King Crimson fans ever since, has aged remarkably well. This material is now presented in its most complete edition to date, most of which was previously unpublished.

“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” still has the ability to surprise and amaze listeners’ ears in 2023.

Blu-ray 1

• 2023 Dolby Atmos Mix, DTS-HD MA 5.1 & 24 / 96 Stereo Mixes by Steven Wilson
• 24 / 96 Elemental Mixes from David Singleton & Instrumental Mixes from Steven Wilson

Blu-ray 2 – all 24 / 96 Stereo:

• Original Album Mix (30th Anniversary Master)
• Session Reels: Keep That One Nick
• The Complete Recording Sessions – Every take / track remixed from the original multi-track tapes by Alex R. Mundy.

CD 1

• 2023 Album Mixes + 3 Instrumental Mixes by Steven Wilson

CD2

• 2023 Elemental Mixes von David Singleton & Session Mixes von Alex R. Mundy