Stick Men return with Let’s THRAK Again, their first full-length studio album in ten years and a direct nod to King Crimson’s 1995 album THRAK. Tony Levin handles Stick, Markus Reuter plays an eight-string U8 Deluxe Touch Guitar, and Pat Mastelotto brings acoustic and electronic drums and percussion. The result is instrumental progressive rock built from hard-edged low end, tightly interlocked rhythm parts and sharply programmed drum textures. It’s heavy, busy and often surprisingly catchy, with each player’s tone designed for these songs rather than pulled from a familiar kit of sounds.
The twelve tracks were written and produced by the trio, with recording taking place in Kingston, Dripping Springs and Berlin. “Let’s THRAK Again”, “Bash Machine” and “Brutal” suggest the more forceful side, while “Haggin Triptych” gives the tracklist a longer-form turn. Fans of King Crimson, touch guitar and technically fierce power trios will know what they’re getting into, though the density may be a lot if you prefer your prog to leave more air around the notes. It’s available as a paid release in FLAC 16/44, MP3 and other formats, with CD, double vinyl and a vinyl box set also offered.
