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Mick Karn songs that spoke to you

#3
I have to echo Hoover's sentiments - I can't think of any MK track that wasn't immediately identifiable as his; every time I heard a new track by him it was time to put my bass down and listen. Too many to choose from and all too many remain undeservedly obscure.
My choice; chill to the serpentine bass of "Open Letter To The Heart Of Diaphora" from Polytown. No other bassist that I know of could have dreamed up such a line.
A true pioneer. Thanks Mick. You're already sorely missed.
 
#6
Truly original, unusual, inspired and weird - definitely one of the main reasons I started playing Bass - Second only to Jaco when it comes to Fretless - why do the Great die young!!!! Check out "Drawings We Have Lived", "Thundergirl Mutation", "Angel's Got A Lotus" , "Feta Funk" , "Moonlife" , "Corridor" , "Bones OF Mud" and "Bestial Chamber" to name but a few. Unique and instantly recognizable - marks of a true Master - you will be missed.....
 
#7
Listening to Tin Drum right now. Sons of Pioneers.

It occurs to me that this record was the first time I noticed the fretless bass sound as being different, although at the time I didn't know why. It just sounded so cool.


Can't believe I forgot about Dalis Car. Gotta go get that now.
 
#8
"Visions of China" and "After A Fashion" w/Midge Ure, but like others have said, just about any song with his playing on never ceased to catch the ear. "Dalis Car" the song as well, so wonderfully bizarre and off the Wal, no pun intended (but accurate!)

So happy I at least saw him play live once and had the oppertunity to have a few words with him. Very soft spoken, and friendly man he was. So VERY sad.
 
#11
I gotta say, I'm not all that familiar with the man's music, but I do know of his legendary status as a bassist. Very saddened to learn of his passing. Every artisit/band has a "Zeppelin IV" or "Dark Side of The Moon" in their catalog. What album would this be for Japan, or any of Karn's work, as I would like to start picking up some material.
 
#12
I was not familiar with Mick Karn until I heard his work on the Kate Bush song called "Heads We're Dancing" on her album "The Sensual World". I was very impressed by his unique tone and interesting style.



I love Kate Bush and have always been impressed by her sensitivity to the low end and her taste in bass players (John Giblin, Everhard Weber, Del Palmer, Danny Thompson, Youth). It makes sense to me that Mick would and Kate would work together, since both have unique visions and push boundaries.
 
#13
The entire "Rain Tree Crow" album. Sylvian, Jensen, Karn & Barbieri play some awesome music on the album.

Many people would think Japan was just a teen idol, synth pop band. That is absolutely not true. They were more progressive than so-called comtemporary prog bands.
 
#15
ilovenofrets said:
I gotta say, I'm not all that familiar with the man's music, but I do know of his legendary status as a bassist. Very saddened to learn of his passing. Every artisit/band has a "Zeppelin IV" or "Dark Side of The Moon" in their catalog. What album would this be for Japan, or any of Karn's work, as I would like to start picking up some material.
Click to expand...

For Japan, most would say 'Tin Drum', which was their last album before they split (until they reformed in the early '90s for the 'Rain Tree Crow' album). I'd go with that and 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids'.

He's worked with loads of other people as a session player/collaborator so there's plenty of stuff of his to discover, but as I'm mostly familiar with Japan then I'll stick to what I know and recommend those 2 records as a starting point!
 
#16
jackduran said:
For Japan, most would say 'Tin Drum', which was their last album before they split (until they reformed in the early '90s for the 'Rain Tree Crow' album). I'd go with that and 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids'.

He's worked with loads of other people as a session player/collaborator so there's plenty of stuff of his to discover, but as I'm mostly familiar with Japan then I'll stick to what I know and recommend those 2 records as a starting point!
Click to expand...

Thanks! :bassist:
 
#18
Chrisk-K said:
The entire "Rain Tree Crow" album. Sylvian, Jensen, Karn & Barbieri play some awesome music on the album.
Click to expand...


Interesting choice...to my ear, Rain Tree Crow has the least overt use of Mick Karn's distinctive bass playing of any album he's ever appeared on. If I'm not mistaken he doesn't even play bass on ~half the tracks, just woodwinds.

Still a haunting, evocative record.
 
#19
Chrisk-K said:
The entire "Rain Tree Crow" album. Sylvian, Jensen, Karn & Barbieri play some awesome music on the album.

Many people would think Japan was just a teen idol, synth pop band. That is absolutely not true. They were more progressive than so-called comtemporary prog bands.
Click to expand...

Nice, "Pocket full of change change" blows my mind every time as just a complete gentle band composition.

As for Synth pop. I used to say to people a couple years ago in my late teens that if Japan were mostly considered "new romantic" then no one under that banner came close to their intuitive musical talent (not one of them formally trained), a band not quite in sync of time and trend.

jackduran said:
For Japan, most would say 'Tin Drum', which was their last album before they split (until they reformed in the early '90s for the 'Rain Tree Crow' album). I'd go with that and 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids'.

He's worked with loads of other people as a session player/collaborator so there's plenty of stuff of his to discover, but as I'm mostly familiar with Japan then I'll stick to what I know and recommend those 2 records as a starting point!
Click to expand...

Always felt that Gentlemen Take Polariods had more highs than Tin Drum (Gentlemen, Swing, My New Career, Nightporter) but wasn't as even in overall briliance.

Quiet Life seems to have many a fan as well. Certainly where Sylvian has adopted a more suave Brian Ferry like vocal over the seductively sleazy first two albums, Michk still shines in it.

Philbiker said:
Every time I pick up a fretless bass the first thing I play is "A Subway Called 'You'" from Gary Numan's "Dance" album. (I always get lost at the bridge though) That bass line was a major inspiration for me to pick up and learn the fretless bass.

If you're a fan of Karn, I recommend clicking the link above.
Click to expand...

God i love that song. Gary knew how to pic bassists, Mick for Dance then Pino for I Assassin. Love it with "She's got Claws" where Gary says to Mick "eh, Ok" to burst into the solo exit.
 
#20
Hoover said:
Interesting choice...to my ear, Rain Tree Crow has the least overt use of Mick Karn's distinctive bass playing of any album he's ever appeared on. If I'm not mistaken he doesn't even play bass on ~half the tracks, just woodwinds.

Still a haunting, evocative record.
Click to expand...

True, but we don't know what Sylvian cut out when he re-edited the album without consultation with the rest of the band.

If anyone has read Micks Bio, could you share what Micks thoughts were on the episode. granted he never played with David again nor did Richard.
 

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