Mick Karn RIP

(Terry Bozzio)

(David Torn)

(Mick Karn)

The first time I heard Mick Karn was on this CD Polytown. I did not know what to think, but each musician on it was so great. Mick's bass playing was from another planet and something that would never be brought up in conversation. I am sure he is mentioned somewhere, but not in the top Electric Bass players. If you heard his sound in Polytown your jaw would drop to the floor and for sure you would ask yourself after the 54 minute CD is there more to listen to. Sadly, there is not. The CD that also included my favorites David Torn and Terry Bozzio screams awesome Power Trio.

I have always been a fan of Power Trio. Weather the music is Rush, Primus, Cream, Robin Trower, Oysterhead or the famous one I really like (and they should do more) Danny Carey, Les Claypool and Adrian Belew. Even Bill Frisell's Power Tools album with Melvin Gibbs and Ronald Shannon Jackson is a must listen. Hearing Torn, Karn and Bozzio screams and chokes you just where you want it to. If your a musician then you should hear this, it will maybe make you cry because of how the talent is. It might turn you off because of it's technical sound, but it provokes (to me) a awe like no other.



It really sounds like they are in the studio and they decide to just roll the tape and see what happens. I would love to be a fly on the wall and just see what they were working on. My favorite track (one of many) is a song called "Res Majuko" Mick's bass playing is out of the realm of what you normally hear. Bozzio just keeps great time hits you hard with these punishing drum fills and assaults you and grabs your wallet and by the middle of the song Torn just blinds you and plays some nifty guitar stuff. It is a true Power Trio album.

These ten tracks present a tribal jazz ambiance and near-constant guitar and bass noodling that fans of Torn, Bozzio and Karn will really go gaga over. "Rivers of warm sand like snakes coil around Polytown often flooding into larger reptiles." That explains it all in the CD case and tells you up front we are pulling no punches. While your jaw is on the floor make sure you realize that is only a one project idea. Too bad too would love to hear more.



Enjoy, this wonderful CD full of great jams, great musicianship and also the best of the best from Mick Karn. He will be sadly missed and I am sure after listening to this you too will be a believer. The man can play and so can everyone else for that matter. Good stuff from my listening when I was still learning what good music was all about in 1994. Enjoy and crank this one up to 11. Enjoy!