DAVID TORN - CLOUD ABOUT MERCURY - 1987

Review 1
Very rare album from almost forgotten great experimentalist David Torn. Searching on his own sound in the field of experimental guitar music, David Torn tested many electronic devices and techniques. But it is a case, when deep experimentation gave excellent musical result.

Just imagine King Crimson's rhythm section (Tony Levin + Bill Bruford), David Torn on guitar ( he has very own sound, but nearest example is Robert Fripp) and excellent jazz trumpetist Mark Isham as one band. That is it, this album.

Very first album sounds are guitar soundscapes, similar to Fripp's. But very soon the music goes to the fields of world-avant-fusion (where Torn plays strings in a manner of French- Vietnamese guitar player Nguyen Le).

Step by step trumpet takes his leading role, and doesn't surrender till very end of the album. Fripp-like guitar and bass stick build very multi textured background for trumpet improvisational sound it.

But guitar will have its moments many times. Sometimes duelling with trumpet, or going over it , it builds great aerial sound constructions ( elegantly mixed by EMC characteristic sound mixing). Rhythm structures are complex, influenced by African and Caribbean drumming.

All the album sounds as one excellent piece of music. Possibly, the best fusion album coming from eighties!

Very recommended for any jazz rock fusion fan. Masterpiece!


Review 2
David Torn is a highly thought of experimental guitarist from the USA. The fact Tony Levin,Bill Bruford and Mark Isham are his band on this album should tell you how respected he is in the music industry.This album is fairly unique sounding to my ears anyway.Experimental and atmospheric Jazz with a World-Music vibe is what we get. I did think of Terje Rypdal on a few occassions with David's guitar work.He's different as he often creates soundscapes with his guitar instead of soloing. "Suyafhu Skin...Snapping The Hollow Reed" opens with lots of spacey atmosphere.The acoustic guitar is different sounding that's for sure,it has that World flavour to it.Piccolo helps out too. The electric guitar 3 1/2 minutes in sounds amazing.Back to the previous soundscape a minute later.Electric guitar is back.Drums are prominant after 7 minutes. "The Mercury Grid" opens with horns followed by percussion before a minute.It gets pretty intense before 5 minutes. "3 Minutes Of Pure Entertainment" features Bruford on the synth-drums.We also get horns and atmosphere.Guitar after 2 1/2 minutes.Normal drums 4 1/2 minutes in then back to the synth-drums. "Previous Man" has a good beat with horns and keys.Guitar after 3 minutes.Trumpet blasts 6 1/2 minutes in as drums pound. "The Delicate Code" is catchy to start.It settles before 2 minutes.The guitar comes in reminding me of Rypdal. "Egg Learns To Walk!...Suyafhu Seal" opens with percussion and horns as the guitar starts to solo.Nice.It settles some after 2 minutes.The horn replaces the guitar.Great sound! Guitar is back 4 1/2 minutes in.It then calms right down a minute later.Sounds proceed to come and go.Lots of atmosphere.It ends just like the album began. This is a very interesting album to listen to. http://www.progarchives.com