News and Information

Mick Karn – Live Performance on Saturday 8th November 2008.

Each year, Isuldars Bane bring a set of musicians together for 5 days rehearsal followed by a gig. Mick will be taking part again this year (he took part a couple of years ago with Jerry Marotta).

The concert will be at the Halmstad Town Hall, Sweden, on Saturday 8th November.

The full line-up this year will be:

• Mick Karn (bass)
• Pat Mastelotto (drums)
• Pamelia Kurstin (an extraordinary Theremin player)
• Christian Saggese (an amazing Italian Classical guitarist)
• Jan Schaffer (Swedish session guitarist, living legend in Sweden, has played with ABBA, Bob Marley and Zappa, to name a few)
• Valgeir Sigurdsson (Icelandic producer who has worked with Björk, The Kronos Quartet, Bonnie Prince Bily etc)
• Luca Calabrese (horn player from Italy)
• Isuldars Bane

Each guest musician has a solo spot utilising the other musicians. Last time MK performed 3 of his tracks: 'Thundergirl Mutation' from The Tooth Mother, 'Back in the Beginning' from Bestial Cluster and 'Twitchy Hand Mover' from Three Part Species.

Posted: 11th October 2008

MK Selected - Release 5th November 2007

"Selected", Mick Karn compilation album, will be released on Monday 5th November. We are currently taking pre-orders in the shop and will send out the CDs in the week before the official release date. Click here to order.

Tracklisting:-

THREE PART SPECIES - 2006
Twitchy Hand Mover
Floating Home
I'll Be Here, Dreaming

MORE BETTER DIFFERENT - 2003
Atyan B-Boot
The Jump

EACH EYE A PATH - 2001
Forgotten Puppeteer
Serves You Rice

THE TOOTH MOTHER - 1995
Thundergirl Mutation
Lodge of Skins

BESTIAL CLUSTER - 1993
Bestial Cluster
Sad Velvet Breath of Summer and Winter

LIQUID GLASS - 1998
Lunette

Posted: 2nd October 2007

MK Space Collective

We are on a journey and we're having fun. MK's silky bass meets some of the most creative artists around the space. Come and see what we are up to at http://www.myspace.com/mkspacecollective And, if you feel you have something to contribute then send us some samples and we might just invite you to join us.

Where it goes nobody knows but hopefully we will see you there

Posted: 9th March 2007

Tour Postponed

Columbia have decided to delay the proposed Three Part Species tour of Japan from January to Spring 2007, thus allowing sufficient time for promotion.

Needless to say, any plans for concert dates elsewhere are also on hold until we receive confirmation of the above going ahead.

Posted: 23rd November 2006

Thanks and Japan

Firstly, Mick wanted to pass on his thanks to all of you for keeping the forum lively and entertaining.
Rather than replying individually, here is a concise summary of work in progress and pending over the coming months.

Tomorrow (18th October) sees the release of Three Part Species in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia on Columbia Records. The CD is in jewel case format and includes the additional track Edge Of Charm, which was part of the UK single.
As is standard procedure on Japanese CD packaging, there are comments from friends and fellow musicians, in this case Ryuichi Sakamoto and Sugizo.

Following the release, a promotional concert tour of Japan is scheduled to take place in January and, depending on the response, Mick very much hopes a selective date or two may be possible in the UK.
Details of the all dates and band personnel will be announced shortly, and for any Japanese speaking members, Columbia have created a Mick Karn page at their website: http://columbia.jp/artist-info/mickkarn/

Posted 17th October 2006

Uncompromising Innocence

Mick was recently asked to contribute some bass guitar on Mari Iijima's forthcoming album "Uncompromising Innocence".

Mick appears on two of the tracks: Broken Computer and Anticipation. The album, released on November 5th, will be available from Mari's official website: www.marimusic.com

Posted 4th October 2006

Three Part Species release in Japan

We are pleased to inform you that Three Part Species will be released in Japan by Columbia Music Entertainment on 18th October 2006.

Posted 21st September 2006

Mick Karn Interview

There is a recent interview with Mick posted at Beatmag - http://www.beatmag.net/june06/features/mick_karn.php

Posted 21st July 2006

Three Part Species - in the shop

Mick's latest album Three Part Species is now available in the online shop - click here.

Posted 30th June 2006

Three Part Species

We have put a download version of Mick's latest album "Three Part Species" in the shop at
http://www.mickkarn.net/shop/ The download version is the same as the CD release and also contains the cover artwork.

From what we have already seen Three Part Species is picking up some fabulous reviews in magazines including Uncut, DJ Magazine, Q Magazine and many more. These should be out in June.

Posted: 24th May 2006

stop-rokkasho podcast feed

Mick was asked by Ryuichi Sakamoto last week, to donate a track to a cause he'd like people to be urgently made aware of :

Ryuichi Sakamoto launched stop-rokkasho.org in response to the opening of a nuclear reprocessing plant in the village of Rokkasho in Japan's northern Aomori Prefecture. Sakamoto wrote and recorded a new track along with shing02 and Christian Fennesz under the group name team 6 as a way to begin the Rokkasho awareness campaign.

This podcast will deliver music, video, photos, art, information and interviews to help spread the word about both the Rokkasho plant and the dangers of reprocessing in general. Future episodes will feature music and are donated by a growing list of artists joining the project.

Podcast News Feed: http://stop-rokkasho.org/av-rss2.php To use the shows with a podcast client, add the news feed URL above.

If you have iTunes click here - http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=154608063

Or, for an online view of the podcast click here http://www.podcastingnews.com/details/stop-rokkasho.org/av-rss2.php/view.htm

The track Mick felt would best suit the project is a re-adaptation of one of the tracks from the forthcoming Three Part Species album. Mick has added a few touches to 'Chocolate Was A Boy' and re-named it 'Chocolate' for copyright reasons, allowing anyone to download it free of charge.

For all relevant information please visit : http://stop-rokkasho.org/

Posted: 22nd May 2006

Three Part Species - Reviews

The following have confirmed reviews for Three Part Species in May/June issues. So far the response has been great and the reviews are looking excellent.

Uncut
Record Collector
Q Magazine
Classic Rock Magazine
DJ Magazine
Barcodezine.com
Total Music
Future Music
Teletext

Posted: 10th May 2006

Mick Karn gets Devious

Mick has been recording some bass for the much respected “House” duo Lil’ Devious. Two tracks can be heard on the Lil’ Devious Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/lildeviousmusic - These are She’s Perfection and a remake of The Jump from More Better Different. The Jump (Devious Mix) and other Mick Karn music is also being used on an extreme sports film– "The World Cup Paragliding Championship 2005", this will be available on DVD within the next 2 months. We will keep you posted.

These tracks and more should be released some time this year. DJ’s and clubs can contact us for promotional releases. music@mickkarn.net

For more information about Lil’ Devious please go to their website http://www.lildevious.com/16226.html

Posted: 8th May 2006

Of and About

The latest single Of and About is now available in our shop as a CD or Download.

Posted: 24th April 2006

Tour Cancelled

I'm sorry to say that the MK tour scheduled for May this year has now been postponed. This has come about due to poor ticket sales, and both agent and promoter felt it the only logical step to take, rather than wait until closer to the shows.

Nobody regrets the decision that was taken only today more than I do, as having direct contact with my audience has always been the most enjoyable part of being a musician. I apologise to any of you who have already bought tickets, and also if you, unfortunately, heard the news before this posting.

I can only hope that rescheduling with additional promotion will put right the situation for sometime later in the year.

Thank you all for your much appreciated support.

MK.

Posted: 28th March 2006

On the Radio

Juice Radio in Brighton are playing tracks from Mick's new single Of & About. You can catch the show live online 10am Sunday morning with Diaruis Akashic. www.juicebrighton.com - just click on the listen live link.

Posted: 22nd March 2006

Three Part Species – Album release June 19th 2006

Of & about
Twitchy hand mover
Floating home
All you have
I'll be here, dreaming
Red film
Chocolate was a boy
Pitta pop
The wrong truth
Regretted

Mick Karn's 7th solo album illustrates more than any other, how completely in command of musical composition he has become. A mixture of so many diverse types of music that, somehow never, even for a second, sound confused in direction. It's impossible with each piece to predict which genre will come next, as the listener is guided through Mick Karn's unique world. At times, there are elements of mowtown rhythms and gospel choirs, classical arrangements and rock guitars, passing through hip-hop and jazz fusion, ethnic traditions and pop songs. The fast tempo bass on 'Twitchy Hand Mover' leaves you wondering how it is possible to actually play such lines, as it totally dominates the track, but then again, so do the clarinets in 'Chocolate Was A Boy', and the acoustic instrumentation in 'Pitta Pop'.

The album includes the voice of new vocalist Bex Collins, who Mick chose after auditioning 'All You Have' through the Mick Karn website. It also has Mick singing on two songs, the title track from the single 'Of & About' and 'The Wrong Truth'. "I find both my vocal tracks to be quite moving love songs, but that's my own personal interpretation, they might not readily come across the same to anyone else." Mick commented, "I've always felt with music that the listener should draw their own conclusions from how it makes them feel at any given time. A happy song for some can often appear sad to others".

There are places that will leave you floating in surrealism, while others anchor you to the ground with solidly formed structures and melodies, and the only disappointment likely to be felt when listening to Three Part Species, is the wish at the end of each track, for more of the same. When asked to explain where some of his influences for writing came from, Mick only had one thing to say: "The life I'm living of course, where else?"

Posted: 7th March 2006

Of & About – single release on April 3rd

Of & About
All You Have
Edge of Charm

The 3 track double A side features 2 songs from Mick's 7th solo album due for release in May to coincide with a tour across the UK.

The title track is a blend of Hip-Hop rhythms, evangelical choirs, Jazz and catchy vocals, all brought together with a melodic and unpredictable bass line. Although the description may sound complicated, it belies the simplicity of the love song at the heart of 'Of & About'. MK "I see it as a jigsaw puzzle of sounds, each fitting neatly into its own space without disturbing the overall picture."

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."

The third piece, 'Edge Of Charm' is an up-beat instrumental exclusively recorded for the single.

Posted: 1st March 2006

Three Part Species

Mick Karn will be releasing his 7th solo album titled "Three Part Species" in May 2006. The album is to be accompanied by a three track single.

We are currently working on a few dates for small intimate live shows in the UK we expect these to be London, Glasgow and Nottingham during May. We will let you know as soon as this has been confirmed.

Images are from the promotional photo session for the album release. Click here for more (Photo's by Debi Zornes)

Posted: 9th February 2006

Bass Player Magazine

In the February 2006 edition of Bass Player magazine there is an interview with Mick Karn. You can see the article here - http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=16&storycode=12823

Posted: 7th February 2006

Mick performing live with Isildurs Bane

On Friday 16th December Mick will appear at IB Expo 2005 in Halmstad with 3 of Mick's tracks being included in the perform:- . Honey Sweating - Polytown, Thundergirl Mutation - The Tooth Mother and Plaster The Magic Tongue - Bestial Cluster.

There are only 166 seats so this will be an unforgettable and intimate concert.

Download Press Release - here

Isildurs Bane website - click here

Posted: 1st December 2005

Timelines is in the shop

We are pleased to inform you that the new "Timelines" album by Stefano Panunzi is now in the shop - click here Mick plays bass on 5 tracks and vocals on 2.

Posted: 8th November 2005

Love's Glove CD in the shop

The CD version Mick Karn's latest EP, Love's Glove, is now available in the shop. click here

Posted: 19th September 2005

The Shop Is Open

We are pleased to add a shop to the site. There are some limited edition and very rare postcards in the shop so be quick.

You will also find a download version of the new EP Love’s Glove (soon). We might be releasing a slightly different version of this EP in a few months on CD.

Posted: 12th July 2005

Love's Glove EP - Message from Mick

The four tracks were recorded during February and March and are a bridge between More Better Different and the next album.

Although much time has passed since the last release, 'mustard grapes' and 'outline ... sandcastle' were already half written before More Better Different's release and therefore seem to share a sympathetic quality. The remaining two tracks point the way and were written at the time of recording.

I find 'regretted' particularly rewarding as a musician as it's made up of only 8 sounds, all of them real and unsynthesized. I also find it to be quite an uncomfortable and disturbing track, something I haven't felt with a piece of music for a long time. It seemed to have a mind of it's own, taking shape and falling into place almost by accident during one sitting.

I should also mention that slight changes have already been made for any subsequent releases, making the download versions unique.

I hope you will all enjoy listening as much as I have in recording them and I look forward to reading any comments.

MK.

Posted: 12th July 2005

Mick on Tour with Kirito

Mick has been working with Japanese artist Kirito. A tour has been arranged and Mick will be with them on stage during August. Kirito's band "Pierrot" are described in Japan as "visual rock". It is very different from Mick's usual projects but we all know that Mick likes to explore new ground.

KIRITO TOUR 2005

 “ The Fef of Hameln ”

• 11th of August  / Namba Hatch (Osaka)
• 13th of August  / Drum Logos (Fukuoka)
• 17th of August  / Zepp Nagoya (Nagoya)
• 22th of August  / Zepp Sendai (Sendai)
• 27th  of August / Zepp Tokyo (Tokyo)
• 28th  of August / Zepp Tokyo (Tokyo)

Price:All Ticket \5,500yen(Tax Inc)

information: http://www.cycloid.jp

Posted: 7th June 2005

New EP

We are delighted to inform you that Mick has finished a few tracks that are about to be released as an EP. This is a transition between old and new and will be made available as a download and also a CD.

Here is a teasing little taster of Milk the Filthy - download

Posted: 24th May 2005

Stefano Panunzi

Stefano has informed us that his album is nearly ready and has given us two preview downloads of tracks featuring Mick Karn on bass. Mick plays on 5 tracks in total on this album.

Masquerade (download preview)
Web of memories
I'm looking for
Tribal Innocence (download preview)
Everything 4 her

We will let you know as soon as the album has been released.

Posted: 25th April 2005

Stefano Panunzi's new Album

'Timelines' is an album by keyboard player Stefano Panunzi which features Mick Karn on four tracks:

Everything 4 Her
Web of Memories (Gavin Harrison on drums)
Tribal Innocence (David Torn on guitar loops) and mixed by MK
Masquerade (includes Mick on backing vocals)

Richard Barbieri also plays on one track with Gavin Harrison called 'Set in Darkness'.

Stefano tells us that it is nearly done, details will be posted when we have them.

Posted: 29th March 2005

New Website, New Forum, New News

Welcome to mickkarn.net - This is the new official website for Mick Karn and Mick will be here regularly to read your messages in the forum and even join in from time to time. So, if you have any questions for Mick then post away here

Please subscribe to the newsletter and we will keep you informed about latest news and updates. Send an email to subscribe@mickkarn.net with subscribe in the subject line - click here

Posted: 22nd March 2005

New Solo Album

Mick is currently working on a new album and is hoping to have it finished later this year. Mick tells us that it is coming on well and we will keep you posted with the progress.

Posted: 22nd March 2005

Love's Glove
2005