POWER PLAY

4.5 stars. STICK MEN have made a pretty good career for themselves with their constant touring. Dozens of live albums are available from these guys and many of those digital releases. I have many and this might be my favourite. Recorded on the USA "Deep" tour in 2013 and over half of the 11 tracks are from that record. With two of the three members being from KING CRIMSON it's almost refreshing not having KING CRIMSON songs on here because they are part of their DNA and always part of their live sets, except here. Now they do cover Robert Fripp's "Breathless" track from his "Exposure" album which might as well be a KING CRIMSON tune but that's it.

Tony Levin Chapman Stick, Pat Mastelotto drums and Markus Reuter Touch guitar and electronics. I keep forgetting Reuter wasn't on the debut because he is such a huge part of this band but it was Michael Bernier on "Soup" the debut. Now Pat has been accused at being a little heavy handed at times on the kit. A little! Not here and this might be one his of best drum performances. I found myself constantly listening to what he was doing during this recording and give the sound guy credit too. I like how the album cover here connects with the "Deep" cover that they were touring on.

Man this is my kind of music and I need to mention the live album "Mirodori" from Japan that David Cross was on especially the second show as being a co-favourite when it comes to their live stuff. But they've had Gary Husband and Mel Collins too changing the flavour of their music with their talents. Top five includes the opener from "Deep" called "Nude Ascending Staircase" and this is powerful "Red" era KING CRIMSON music and the perfect opener. "Breathless" from Fripp is like I said so KING CRIMSON, they nail it and the bass is shaking it. Drumming is A+ all the way. Angular guitar I mean it's almost perfect.

"Van Dyke Improv" was not a track I expected to be drawn to but this is awesome. Spacey guitar expressions and atmosphere then it starts to move around a minute before building. Same with "Open,Part III" I wasn't expecting it to be so good. Haunting and dark early before becoming this powerful piece with incredible drumming. "The Firebird Suite" was on their debut "Soup" and is a Stravinsky piece. The longest too at over 11 minutes. Check out the atmosphere and sinister sound early. Kicks in to a surprisingly fast pace. Drumming is driving this then it relents with intricate sounds taking over before building again but the tempo continues to change.

I'm bumping this one up, just too much enjoyment. I didn't mention "Cusp" and "Horatio" which would be in my top seven, shorter, more powerful songs. As long as the STICK MEN are around the KING CRIMSON spirit will be alive and well.