[ Album Cover ]

Bestial Cluster
by Mick Karn

Released 1993
Label: CMP
Catalogue: CMP CD 1002

[ Reviewed May 2003 ]

Mick Karn was the bassist in 80's pop giants Japan, and his distinctive style made a large contribution to their overall unique sound.  He has been actively working since Japan broke up and I have a few albums with him on.  I've been trying various combinations of ex-Japan members so it was only a matter of time before I got a solo album of his.  All of the tracks are written by Karn but guitarist David Torn has a large influence with joint arrangement credits and of course guitar playing.  Ex-Japan drummer Steve Jansen is on here in places, as is keyboardist Richard Barbieri who plays on one of the tracks and helps on others.

This album consists of 8 tracks, the great majority of which are instrumental.  So on first look, this is exactly what I'm after.  As expected it turns out to be a great showcase for Karn's wonderful fretless bass playing.  Often, the backbone of the music consists of Karn's deep bass groove with accompanying drums, with the rest of the music more of a secondary accompaniment.  The overall feel of the music is on the dark and serious side which also suits me.  There is excellent use of a wide range of sounds and textures.  The synth patches are good and all of the tracks have nice pieces of fill-in added throughout.  This could be saxophone or flute or violin.  It can get a bit jazzy at times with sax on Beard In The Letterbox, and a lovely piano solo on The Sad Velvet Breath....  There is an almost world-music feel to a couple of the tracks with some Chilean vocal on Saday, Maday, and breathy flute on The Sad Velvet Breath....

While most of the album is very good, there are a couple of times when I was left wondering what they were up to.  The opening title track is very good musically and Karn is at his most forceful, but I don't see the point of the false crowd noises.  Back In The Beginning has nice bass-line and percussion, and Torn is doing some of his best work in the background, but it is spoilt by the way it plods along and breaks into some pretty poor singing.  Karn is the culprit here.  I know it's his solo album but someone should have a word!  It probably is a good idea to break up an instrumental album with some singing but just get David Sylvian to do it.

This being on the German jazz label CMP ensures that the recording quality is up there with the best.  The deep and slippery bass tones are beautifully rendered and the live (non-programmed) percussion is truly bright and sparkly.  The album is well put together, and although it may not a classic, it's in the very good category, and a useful addition to my collection.  I'm pretty pleased with it, as I could listen to Karn at great length; I can forgive him the odd mistake.  The copy I have is second-hand and a digi-pack, limited to 10,000.  Since the CMP label closed a few years ago, I'm not sure of the availability of it.

If you like this then why not try Polytown.  It has Karn's magical bass in probably greater quantity, with Torn also on guitar.  It is more improvised than this album however.  It's also on CMP but is easily available.

Tracks:
1.Bestial Cluster4:11
2.Back In The Beginning5:10
3.Beard In The Letterbox7:06
4.The Drowning Dream5:07
5.The Sad Velvet Breath Of Summer And Winter5:47
6.Saday, Maday6:28
7.Liver & Lungs5:40
8.Bones Of Mud5:36
total time 45:05

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