Torn, Jarn, Bozzio - Polytown - what's similar?

[Septober Energy]

This is one of those CDs I set aside for months or even years at a time, and then it blows me away when I pull it out again. I've now listened to it three days in a row. I love how this sounds so dreamy, exotic and at times even aggressive, yet always incredibly original. I have long thought that this was the direction King Crimson should have gone circa Thrak.

What I want to know is: What else is there that even sounds remotely like this? I'm pretty sure the answer is "nothing" but this is not a rhetorical question, so give me your best recommendations. I ran across a comparison to a band called Group 87 online yesterday. I believe Bozzio was in the band. I listened to one of their albums on YouTube yesterday. It was OK, but nothing like this. Can anyone here do better?

[Dave (in MA)]

What I want to know is: What else is there that even sounds remotely like this? I'm pretty sure the answer is "nothing" but this is not a rhetorical question, so give me your best recommendations. I ran across a comparison to a band called Group 87 online yesterday. I believe Bozzio was in the band. I listened to one of their albums on YouTube yesterday. It was OK, but nothing like this. Can anyone here do better?

I only have the 2nd Group 87 release, and it's pretty dated and IMO boring. I'd definitely go with The Tooth Mother and Bestial Cluster, and you might like to check out Torn's Tripping Over God and What Means Solid, Traveller?. If you like those, maybe try Robby Aceto's album Code from around the same time. Some of the contemporary releases from Brand X and Percy Jones might also satisfy what you're looking for, too.

[Udi Koomran]

Torn Levin White

[GuitarGeek]

I would try some of David Torn's own albums, specifically Cloud About Mercury, which has him playing with Bill Bruford and Tony Levin. And then there's Bruford/Levin Upper Extremities, which was essentially a reunion of the Cloud About Mercury band (with Chris Botti replacing Mark Isham).

You also might consider the Jan Garbarek Group's It's OK To Listen To The Gray Voice. That's kind of a weird mix of almost new age-ish sounding jazz, but with Torn's very not new age-ish guitar playing mixed in. Great album.

[Stickleback]

The Lonely Bears.

[No Pride]

I only have the 2nd Group 87 release, and it's pretty dated and IMO boring.

The first one was better, but still not very similar, aside from Bozzio's presence.

I would try some of David Torn's own albums, specifically Cloud About Mercury, which has him playing with Bill Bruford and Tony Levin.

^
This!

[Bake 1]

Torn sounds like few others and Polytown is one of my favorites from him. Some Steve Tibbetts could hit similar nerve endings. Also Crater / Proceed has some similar narcotic properties w/maybe a little Larks Tongues and Can action.

[Septober Energy]

Thanks for all the recommendations, fellas!

I've tried a couple of Karn's solo albums and found them to be uneven at best. I once owned Cloud About Mercury and couldn't get past the dated '80s feel, which was really disappointing. Maybe I'll give it another try though. Jan Garbarek is a surprising recommendation, so I'll try to look into that one. And the Attention Deficit is interesting too.

Edit: Oh yes, and I'm already a massive Steve Tibbets fan, Bake 1. I agree he works in similar territory at times, though I hadn't really thought about that till you mentioned it.

[polmico]

Bozzio, Levin, Stevens.

[The Gak Omek]

The White Rim of Heaven - Brian Gingrich
Production & Guitars by David Torn

[Udi Koomran]

[Udi Koomran]

http://www.discogs.com/Marty-Fogel-M...elease/3136463

[Septober Energy]

Nice! I have never heard of this before. I like it.



I also ran across this on Friday, another CMP release I didn't know existed:

[Proghound]

Since you asked for "similar", I also really like JBK (Jansen, Barbieri, Karn) though Steve Wilson plays guitar..no Torn. But I like all of Karn's stuff, his fretless bass playing was phenomenal. The Bozzio, Levin, Stevens albums are gems as well. Some of my favorite Torn was seeing him play with David Sylvian.

[GuitarGeek]

Forgot about that one. I've got that on CD somewhere around here. I remember asking Torn himself about it in the old AOL days, back in the 90's, and I got the impression he didn't have very good memories of those sessions.

[Bake 1]

Was going to attach something from Dark Tamna Voda, but the Sacred Heart track wasn't available on YT...anyway, this may help scratch the itch.

[gearHed289]

I was lucky enough to catch these guys at the Hothouse in Chicago, and also, B.L.U.E. at Park West, where I got to watch the sound check (Botti was being a big baby about something. LOL!) and have a quick chat with Bruford.

Steve Tibbets! I forgot I have one of his albums, and it's GREAT!

[interbellum]

When I first heard Truce by Markus Reuter I had to think of Polytown. It appeared to be an inspiration:

https://markus-reuter-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/truce

This month Truce 2 will be released on Bandcamp and in March on CD.
After listening to it a couple of times I think it's less in the same vein as Polytown. There are less hard grooving basslines and it's more difficult to get grip of it. After a while you may get used to the noise-walls Reuter produces and hear the depths of the improvisations. Personal highlight is the album closer One Cut Suffices.

https://markus-reuter-moonjune.bandc.../album/truce-2

[Dave (in MA)]

Here's something that should fit in here,

https://birdsthroughfire.bandcamp.co...ters-to-thurza

I first heard about this on Torn's Facebook page, where he recommended it. It came out sometime after my last post on this thread. Torn was involved in its production but does not appear on it. Track 5 is decidedly Karn-influenced.
The CD was not in print for very long, but it's available once again via Bandcamp, and there are streaming and download options.

https://www.robbyaceto.com/birds-through-fire/

[interbellum]

Yes, good one. Bought it when it was released. It has Robby Aceto who worked with Torn a lot.

[Mascodagama]

I don't know if I would really call it similar, but I think this album may appeal to the same tastes:



A brilliant piece of work IMO.

[Aggie87]

How are the colloboration albums with Torn & Sonar?

[Dave (in MA)]

How are the colloboration albums with Torn & Sonar?

Better than the Sonar-only ones, IMO.
You can hear them on Bandcamp before you buy.
https://sonar-band.bandcamp.com/album/vortex
https://sonar-band.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-moods
https://sonar-band.bandcamp.com/albu...x-translations

You also could check out,
https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/album/fractal-guitar
https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/a...-laswell-remix
https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/a...actal-guitar-2
https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/a...itar-2-remixes

Torn is involved with each of them to some extent.
I'm not usually a big remix fan, but these are something else.

[Steve F.]

A brilliant piece of work IMO.

I don’t really think that it’s similar, but I do think it’s a very good album.

[Boceephus]

Here's something that should fit in here,

https://birdsthroughfire.bandcamp.co...ters-to-thurza

I first heard about this on Torn's Facebook page, where he recommended it. It came out sometime after my last post on this thread. Torn was involved in its production but does not appear on it. Track 5 is decidedly Karn-influenced.
The CD was not in print for very long, but it's available once again via Bandcamp, and there are streaming and download options.

https://www.robbyaceto.com/birds-through-fire/

A Portrait of Amber. Great track.


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