Everyone talks about fretless players like Paladino and Pastorius but Mick Karn revolutionized fretless with his unbelievable innovative style and technique that nobody to this day has come close to emulating. A truly wonderful player:) Sadly underrated and sorely missed by those who had the great fortune to witness him live or on record.
I used to listen to this track around my gran's house when I was a kid as I didn't have a record player. I saved my pocket money for months to buy Tin Drum..I was obsessed with that album. My gran thought I was weird as hell and possibly communist :)
What a bass line!!!! Got to be one of the top bassists ever, let alone one of the greatest fretless ever!! I couldn't stand this kind of music back then, but through a set of circumstances I went to one of their last ever gigs and was blown away by how good they sounded live, and especially Mick Karn. Karn had this kind of robotic pigeon step walk, never seemed to look where he was going, but seemed to know exactly where to be for visual effect on stage. Looking at this video you can see he hardly ever looks at the fingerboard, something that many fretless guys do because you don't have a point of reference like with frets. I doubt there is a bass player on the planet that can recreate what Mick was capable of live...and of course he was a multi-instrumentalist...a very clever and unique human, and one I sadly miss.
A real loss to the bass playing community. Mick had a unique style helped by his wanting the bass to be a stand out instrument. He was taken from us far too soon and had so much more to give
Mick’s Bassline is so incredible, in the original recording I was confused on if that riff was even coming from a bass because it sounds so foreign and otherworldly in terms of bass. This whole composition is absolutely breathtaking as a whole.
monster mick's massive bass-line warped n twisted notes are just superb, his trademark bass basslines will echo throughout eternity - truly amazing and multi-talented genius.
I know everyone's talking about Mick Karn's bass line here but I am equally impressed with the synthesizers. The whole Tin Drum album features some of the most unique and evocative synthesis I've ever heard.
This band is underrated, especially Mick Karn. I don't understand why I've never heard of these guys before. I guess too weird and experimental for America.
Plus Tin Drum had too many communist China references- got it banned in Singapore and South Korea, those Liberal bastions of free speech (not then anyway)
MICK KARN HAS LEFT US, & HAS LEFT AN ACHING VOID IN MUSIC. MICK KARN JULY 24TH 1958-JANUARY 4TH 2011 REQUIESCAT IN PACE (MAY HE REST IN PEACE). HE'S GONE, BUT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
@@devintariel3769 i once heard that being a greek cypriot, he grew up secretly listening to turkish radio transmissions. as dalis car, they've re-imagined a turkish folk song.
Mick Karn..it almost seems like the bass is possessing him here so it can speak its story....his leg stomping to the beat, the twitches and jerks he makes while plucking each chord..it's something very dark and not of this dimension but absolutely brilliant and beautiful.
I was at Lancaster Uni in I think 1980/81 and again in 82 in 80/81 I’d never actually heard of em , by 1982 I was a massive fan , I can still see Mick gliding across stage to this in his own inimitable way , still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck …….absolute LEGEND!
This brings back so many memories. I remember seeing this at Hammersmith Odeon, particularly this track, great bass and drums and just amazing lighting, this was one of my favourite tracks they played in the concert! Steve Jansen, one of the best drummers ever!
First came across them in the 'Dolls' era, when they supported Blue Oyster Cult here in Manchester (UK) ..... loved them ever since in all their stages .... Always superb live..... Tin Drum was the peak .... Karn is sublime ..... sadly missed. R.I.P. ....
These guy played a big part in my youth, I loved their stance, their way, the music is mind blowing. What was their live like, In my mind it must have been like drugs without the drugs at first. Their combination of lyrics with their musical machines is to be admired. Lots of us still love them.
This right here with the instrumental track " Canton " is still light year's ahead of its time & even todays music & for me a lot of that was because of how Mick Karn played the fretless bass guitar... I'm not disrespecting the other members as they were amazing players also but the Rythm Section in that band of David Jansen & Mick Karn are in my all time rythm section list of my favourite bands... The fretless bass line of " Canton " is & always will be one of the most unique bass lines (especially on the fretless) that i've ever heard & Pino Palladino is also one of my all time favourites players but I'm talking about Mick here & this bass line is still off the charts & when you take in how he shuffled around the stage & if you couldn't see his feet it looked like he was floating along on air on as he moved around the stage & that to me was amazing to watch & even though i believe it did cause him pain at times he still did it & that is dedication for you... I'm probably going to get negative or smart arse remarks when using this as a particular " analogy " when i say that watching Japan playing Live was akin to watching Cream playing Live & something truly amazing was happening in front of your eyes & ears that at times way beyond just music that your were listening to... Of course Cream & Japan come from 2 very different musical genres but as far as musicianship & what they were creating was similar to Cream because of their musicianship was beyond those around them & what they were doing no one else could create or sound like & sadly only those that listened & became fans really got to hear this as it was difficult to put (which i hate anyway) Japan in a specific genre but for them i felt it was we will shut up & we will let our music do the talking and even the critics & music talk show hosts who had them on their show Live in the UK just werent sure how to describe them just before they played Live as they didnt fit into any specific genre as you could name them one & many more could name them as a different type of music & style of band & that makes them truly a one off & unique group even up to today & i still never label a genre on to them & just call them Japan... The amount of family members & friends that i got them into listening to & then following Japan was due to letting them see & listen to this instrumental & at times even i was puzzled as most people introducing someone new to a band would pick a song with lyrics but there is something about " Canton " played Live just more often than not won over listeners i knew that would never have listened to them before & i used " Canton " as a gateway introduction to let others hear who would never had ever bothered to listen to Japan & once that instrumental won them over more often than not they were along for the ride with their songs that David put his unique voice to... Its knocks me off my feet as does all there other music though at first they were going & sound more like a punk pop fusion band but once that phase was over & the overall sound that they went on to create as a band was & still is so out there & amazing... RIP Mick Karn In light of this still ongoing coronavirus outbreak stay safe and healthy wherever you are in this this world & together we will bear this Covid-19 & my thoughts go out to those who have lost loved one's/family member's or friends to this virus... Stay Strong & Take Care One & All... Ps To those fighting this virus on all fronts i cant Thank You All enough & how everyone is still working (if possible) to allow us to get what we need to get by each day is also going way above & bejond in these uncertain dark times & i Thank You All as well... .....
I have huge admiration for Mick Karn RIP. He was the most talented bass player, multi instrumentalist and artist ! So sad he is not with us but his music lives on! He is mind blowingly gifted and a total legend!
Seen them live at manchester apillo about 1987 or 88 remember steve on drums and david s vocals mock.karn gteat bass player andrichard my partner and both shared a love of japan till he passed away 2 yrs ago my partner loved micks guitar olaying
Yeah I saw this at the Hammersmith odeon went bought a fretless bass from the bass centre in Romford the next weekend could never master his style of playing he was a one off Rip fellow lowender
Not my favourite song by Japan or my favourite bass line from Mick, but..., the unique sound he’s creating and the work he appears to be putting into this is just amazing. The sound is so distinctive ❤️❤️❤️
While Japan and Sakamoto-san were pure genius, that was not Sakamoto but Tsuchiya Masami of Ippu-Du--a great singer-songwriter and musician. Great guitarist.
Hi Eddie, is your video the Oil on Canvas concert at Hammersmith? How good is the quality of your video? What format was the original release? I have checked out every video I can find on RU-vid and all of the uploads are terrible quality. This one of Canton is about as good as they get. Most are very blurry - I assume the originals were sold on VHS? I have also looked online and not found an original copy of the concert video. Would you consider having your copy digitally transferred and uploading it?
tema fascinante. Que bello sonido el del bajo! las texturasy lasmelodías del teclado son fabulosos los gamelanes y la percusión le dan un tono envolvente a la canción
