Mick Karn - Ashamed to be a Part of Them (from The Concrete Twin)

Mick Karn, an ex-member of the 80s pioneers, Japan, was always a prolific and important musician, writing his own solo material since 1982. “Ashamed to be a Part of Them“ showcases melodic jazz flute and bass lines for this funky thriller, taken from ’The Concrete Twin’ - re-issued by Kscope - ’The Concrete Twin’ was Karn’s final solo album from 2009 before his death in 2011 - listen to songs from his other works here - The follow on from 2006’s Three Part Species, The Concrete Twin showcases an engaging performance with dazzling musicianship and a commercial know-how that elevates it beyond your standard left-field art-rock. Here, Karn produced a more organic sound than some of his previous work. Assisted only by drummer Pete Lockett, Karn plays everything else on the album, including, for the first time since the early 80s, the ocarina. ’The Concrete Twin’ is a densely complex but richly rewarding album touching on jazz, swing and drum’n’bass with synth waves that sound surreal, distort, morose and instrumental tracks that morph and expire eerily. Richard Barbieri, an ex-band mate with Karn in Japan, has announced his new album ’Planets Persona’ due to be released in March 2017. Listen to the teaser video here -