Jansen, Barbieri, Karn & Wilson: Bestial Cluster

Mick Karn was the master of creating bass lines that were somehow simple, angular, and melodic all at the same time. Check out this clip of Karn with Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, and Steve Wilson performing “Bestial Cluster” for 2 Meter Session on Dutch television.

Karn gets a gnarly distortion to lay down a fat and simple bass line before taking the lead with a melodic line. Check out the artificial harmonics he plays as fills while holding down the fort.

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  1. It’s sad that progressive musicians hardly ever achieve the success of musicians in popular genres. The are playing at the bleeding edge of music as far as technique and sounds, etc. but they are usually confined to a niche audience. While it’s true that Japan did chart during their lifetime, it’s also true that they sold nowhere near the amount of records of say Fleetwood Mac or the Eagles, and they never had a top 10 hit, let alone a number 1.

  2. That’s great! Karen had definitely a voice of his own.

  3. Doc.Hoc.

    Man what a big ole fat sound from Karn on bass.