Trey Gunn & Pat Mastelotto: TU

What if the rhythm section of King Crimson got together with full creative license to dazzle the faithful fans? What might that sound like? Well TU of course. And Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto set out from the opening track Untamed Chicken to define their own style and leave a mark. Although this album debuted in 2003, it has not been available until now, and gets a new breath of life with this re-release.

"Trey Gunn joined King Crimson in 1994, which at the time included Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, and Pat Mastelotto. Gunn helped evolve a new and unique instrument, the Warr Guitar, which is a 'tapped' instrument, resembling a 10-string touch guitar with the range of a piano. Gunn has also toured and worked with such talent as TOOL, Brian Eno, Maynard J. Keenan's "Pusicfer", Vernon Reid, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Azam Ali, and David Hykes of the Harmonic Choir, to name a few" (http://www.treygunn.com/bio/, 2012).

"Pat Mastello, partnered with Bill Bruford on drums, along with the other band members of King Krimson back in 1994. Since moving to Austin Texas he has worked with Steve Wilson, Steve Hackett, Peter Kingsberry, Isuldurs Bane and others as a solo contributing artist" (http://patmastelotto.com/welcome/, 2012).

With Trey, you either like his inspiration and innovations or you don't. There is usually no middle ground. Although I wouldn't classify myself as a fan by any stretch of the imagination, this disc is more interesting than the others I've listened to in the past. "Untamed Chicken", "Absinthe & A Cracker", and "Xtcu2", are the standout tracks for me. In fact the first seven tracks are some of the best tracks I've ever heard from Gunn.

1. Untamed Chicken is the best song on the album. Full of surprises which I will not give away.

2. Absinthe & A Cracker is full of original character and cool vocal sounds, surrounded by excellent drumming and a nice eastern rhythm.

3. The Noose opens eerily, with cool guitar and weird sighs and vocal sounds. Then it gets weirder…

4. Xtcu2 is full of cool guitar buzz and sound, with great supporting drums and keyboards. Second best track on the album after "Untamed Chicken".

5. Make My Grave in the Shape opens with some narration before the spade – like guitar pulverizes the air. The blasting percussion, drums, keys and bursting guitar make this one a definite keeper.

6. Terry's Breath has a slow serene opening to it, with quiet vocals echoing in and out. Full of excellent keyboard like sounds and street – wise rhythms, set to perfectly timed drums.

7. Snap, Crackle, Moo is full of cool clicking and mooing guitar sounds that fill the air and keep things interesting with the drums and vocal improvisations adding to the specter.

8. Hotel Fandango is full of more cool sound effects, rhythms, and drum work with excellent percussion effects streaming throughout.

9. Misery Die…Die…Die is a flat out rocker full of power chords, blasting drums and loads of percussion.

10. Orlando in Bloom is full of fast moving buzz guitar with supporting percussion and drums.

11. Pony has a slow beat, bass -like sound, surrounded by cymbals, drums and short spurt grinding guitar, along with what sounds like a lasso thrown in for fun.

12. Jamoohra is that familiar bass guitar sound with all sorts of interspersed beats from guitar, drum, and percussion set to a funky rhythm.

13. Dakota is full of floating keyboard – like sounds interweaved with heavy bass and slow drums tapping out the beat.

14. Coda to Dakota is a stripped down version of the last track.

Track Listing:

1. Untamed Chicken
2. Absinthe & A Cracker
3. The Noose
4. Xtcu2
5. Make My Grave
6. Terry's Breath
7. Snap, Crackle
8. Hotel Fandango
9. Misery Die…Die…Die
10. Orlando in Bloom
11. Pony
12. Jamoohra
13. Dakota
14. Coda to Dakota

Added: January 14th 2012
Reviewer: Mark Johnson
Score:
Related Link: Trey Gunn_Tu.com
Hits: 2168
Language: english

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