Let's THRAK Again (REEL TWO) by Stick Men

At last “Let’s THRAK Again (REEL TWO)” has arrived too, the mirror twin of “Let’s THRAK Again (REEL ONE)”, but offering a completely different listening experience. Both records share the same core material, but here’s what makes them unique:

REEL ONE was mixed by Stefano Castagna, who gave it a classic touch, focusing on the architecture and layering of the sound. REEL TWO, instead, was mixed by Fabio Trentini, who chose a heavier, more energetic approach, highlighting complex polyrhythms, groove, and ambient soundscapes.

The two albums have completely different tracklists and alternate mixes of the songs, which changes how the pieces connect to each other. For example, REEL ONE groups the tracks into the structure of the Haggin Triptych.

REEL ONE is mainly available on CD (I got my vinyl copy at the BEAT concert in Perugia), while REEL TWO is the main mix for the premium Double Vinyl edition. This edition includes exclusive bonus tracks such as Pulp and the improvised suite In Seventh Heaven.

The tracklists of Let’s THRAK Again (REEL ONE) and Let’s THRAK Again (REEL TWO) show differences both in the handling of individual tracks and in the overall timing structure. The main difference lies in the fragmentation of the pieces and the vocal performances, arranged according to the preferences of different band members.

In REEL ONE, the three movements (Renoir, Carriage Parade and Yosemite Sunset) are joined into a single, tight suite, Haggin Triptych, placed as the third track on the record. In REEL TWO, the suite is split into three standalone, separate tracks, placed at different points on the record and spaced out by other songs.

On “Brutal”, in REEL ONE we find Tony Levin’s vocal track.  In REEL TWO, instead, the song features a completely different vocal line, performed by drummer Pat Mastelotto.

Let’s look at the tracklist of these two versions:

REEL ONE, mixed by S. Castagna.  It starts with “Let’s THRAK Again”, then continues with “Like We Did Last Summer” and the single suite “Haggin Triptych”.  After that, we enjoy “Komodo”, the “Vocal Version” of “Swimming in Tea”, “Bash Machine”, “Reading the Future”, “Thief of the Dice”, “Brutal” (Tony Vox version), “Dark Birthday”, “Fandango” and, finally, the twelfth track, “The Well”.

REEL TWO, mixed by F. Trentini, has a totally different order. It opens with “Dark Birthday”, followed by “Komodo”, “Let’s THRAK Again” and “Like We Did Last Summer”.  Then we have “Renoir” (the first part of the triptych), “Swimming in Tea”, “Bash Machine”, “Brutal” (Pat Vox version) and “Carriage Parade” (the second part of the triptych).  The record closes with “Fandango”, “Reading the Future”, “The Well”, “Thief of the Dice” and, finally, the fourteenth track, “Yosemite Sunset” (the third part of the triptych).

This special edition extends the final tracklist with two exclusive bonus tracks, placed on the blank sides of the record.  These are “Pulp”, a driving, high-energy track taken from the “Brutal” EP, and “In Seventh Heaven”, a long 14-minute instrumental improvisation.

“Pulp” showcases the trio’s more aggressive side, with ultra-tight interlocking between Markus Reuter’s Touch Guitar and Pat Mastelotto’s industrial drumming, while “In Seventh Heaven” is a long improvised suite of about 14 minutes, an atmospheric piece of pure instrumental experimentation where Tony Levin (on electric upright bass and Chapman Stick) and his bandmates create abstract, expanded soundscapes, very close to the famous King Crimson-style improvised “projeKcts”.

While the songs on the standard tracklist of both Reels total about 53 minutes, adding these two bonus tracks brings the total length of the REEL TWO vinyl experience to over 70 minutes of music, and I consider it a can’t-miss chance to dive back into the unique sonic world of King Crimson.

What makes Let’s THRAK Again (REEL TWO) a true masterpiece is Fabio Trentini’s production work. 

The rhythmic impact is insane. Trentini removed the electronic elements to spotlight the band’s pure energy. The result is a much more visceral, heavier sound, bringing out the complex textures and polyrhythms of Pat Mastelotto’s hybrid drumming and Tony Levin’s Chapman Stick.

The songs move smoothly between dark, tense ambient atmospheres, creating a sharp contrast from one track to the next, which is missing in the linear flow of the first version.

As in the REEL ONE version, the real masterpiece of the record—and thus of this mix too—is the majestic version of “Swimming in Tea”.  This track, originally composed by Markus Reuter, is completely reinvented on REEL TWO.  Unlike the first disc’s version, the tempo here is halved, turning the song into a dark, heavy progressive march, packed with dramatic power.  On this imposing rhythmic base, one of Tony Levin’s most iconic and beloved Chapman Stick solos comes in, holding up the entire sonic structure of the piece.

The story of “Swimming in Tea” is a journey that begins in the late ’80s.  This piece has lived several lives, evolving over time.

A young Markus Reuter, still in high school, wrote the music and lyrics for this piece.  Back then, the song became a small local hit, often played live with his band.  It was a pop/rock tune, sung, with a fairly fast, driving tempo.

Decades later, Reuter pulled this track out to propose it to Stick Men.  And they completely transformed it. They removed the words and slowed the tempo, creating a dark, heavy, hypnotic avant-garde instrumental piece.  It became a highlight of their concerts, as you can hear on their live EPs, including “Swimming in Tea - Live in Spoleto”.

Today, in 2026, with the album “Let’s THRAK Again”, the circle has closed.  The band decided to re-record the song, returning to the original fast tempo and Reuter’s lyrics.  The text is about drowning and sinking into a cup of tea, with surreal imagery.  A return to the roots, but with real modernity.

Let’s THRAK Again (REEL TWO) is, in my view, the definitive and most successful version of the project, a true triumph of modern art-rock. 

Even though the first chapter is a work that grabbed me immediately, I prefer REEL TWO for its force and punch.  While Castagna’s mix aims for balance and clarity, Fabio Trentini’s embraces the trio’s more visceral, unpredictable, and brazen soul.

The record manages to carry forward the authentic experimental attitude of the THRAK-era King Crimson, projecting it into the future with heavy, industrial sonics and polyrhythms of impressive complexity.

The choice to break up the Haggin Triptych suite across the whole record was brilliant, because it gives the album a grand narrative.  This, together with the monumental bonus tracks, makes the double-vinyl edition an essential collector’s piece.

Let’s THRAK Again (REEL TWO) is therefore not just an album of alternate mixes, but a powerful, self-contained work of art, deserving a place of honor among the best albums of 2026.

You can find HERE the full review of the REEL ONE version.

My Version

Label: Iapetus – 7D2613, Unsung Records – 7D2613
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Clear
Country: Worldwide
Released: 2026

Tracklist

A1        Dark Birthday    3:49
A2        Komodo    4:15
A3        Let's THRAK Again    3:11
A4        Like We Did Last Summer    4:11
A5        Renoir    1:39
B1        Swimming In Tea    3:45
B2        Bash Machine    3:41
B3        Brutal    4:09
B4        Carriage Parade    2:15
B5        Fandango    4:42
C1        Reading The Future    4:25
C2        The Well    6:04
C3        Thief Of The Dice    5:35
C4        Yosemite Sunset    2:18
D1        Pulp    6:07
D2        In Seventh Heaven    15:12
 

Lineup

Chapman Stick [Stick] – Tony Levin
Composed By – Markus Reuter, Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin
Drums [Acoustic Drums], Electronic Drums, Percussion – Pat Mastelotto
Engineer [Markus Reuter's Recording Engineer], Sound Designer [Markus Reuter's Sound Design Support] – Erik Emil Eskildsen
Mixed By – Fabio Trentini
Producer [Produced By] – Stick Men (2)
Touch Guitar [Touch Guitars® U8 Deluxe] – Markus Reuter