Mick Karn

Even on early Japan recordings, his highly distinctive fretless bass voice

for which he is most renowned can be heard. By their swan song, critically acclaimed

Tin Drum 1981, he was dubbed one of the best bass players in the world. He'd

already supplied bass and sax work to Gary Numan's Dance album and was the first

Japan member with a solo record -- Titles. In 1983, Japan's live album, Oil

on Canvas, brought his playing to new ears: jazz legend Jan Garberek.

The following year brought an unlikely collaboration with Peter

Murphy of Bauhaus. The Waking Hour became Dalis Car's only album and soon

Karn was again a solo agent teaming up with close friend Steve Jansen to produce

Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters. Session work with Kate

Bush and Joan Armatrading bridged Karn's solo efforts, which were few and

far between, often odd in title and texture (Beard in the Letter Box, Plaster

the Magic Tongue).

The early '90s saw a more prolific Karn who formed the label Medium with Jansen

and Richard Barbieri. All three joined guitarist David Torn to produce his best

efforts: Bestial Cluster (1993) and The Tooth Mother in 1995. Between these

came an experimental project, Polytown, again with Torn and drummer Terry Bozzio.

Its muscular and at times funky prog rock is not for the feint hearted. Karn

found time to spend on his sculpture work and a San Francisco sabbatical eventually

bore the album Each Eye a Path. Each Path A Remix followed in 2003 when a number

of Mick About for release in April 06 blends

Hip-Hop rhythms, evangelical choirs, Jazz and catchy vocals, all brought together

with a melodic and unpredictable bass line, it belies the simplicity of the

love song at the heart of the track. The alternative A side introduces the voice

of new vocalist Bex Collins in a dark, moody setting with the surprising addition

of fuzz bass guitars and a Gypsy violin. ALL YOU HAVE was auditioned extensively

before Mick decided on Bex as the missing element needed to complete the song.

"I gave no indication of what I wanted to hear," explains Mick, "It's

a strange track, but I knew the right singer would understand it without any

guidance."