Reassuring that visits deep into the past record collection aren’t revealing embarassing immature tastes. I say that because listening to Red by King Crimson today brought back the same hair-raising thrill that it did back in the mid 1980s, (Note- it was released in 1974). It’s down to Robert Fripp that there are harmonies and key changes that are orchestrated like "classical" music. I recall listening out for similar qualities in Mahler, or Schönberg. There is a jazzy feel in those harmonic instruments- clarinet, Sax and violin which can be heard amongst the thundering great bass guitar passages. they tap out oriental rhythms, cascades that echo the main themes and generally provide dynamic contrasts.
This album belongs in a trio with "Lark’s Tongues" and "Starless…"