I've been a fan of Trey Gunn since his days as a sideman on Robert Fripp's projects in the 90's, and found that he added a lot to the spirit and power of King Crimson until he decided to leave a few years ago. And like any self-respecting prog rock listener in the 70's, I was a fan of Eddie Jobson and "his" band UK at that time. What I particularly liked was that UK could take the musical direction pioneered by the likes of ELP and Crimson (no surprise, as the band included alumni of the latter) and turn it into something new that was both powerful and accessible.
So I was both pleased and surprised when I learned from reading Trey Gunn's blog sometime back that he was joining Eddie Jobson in a new endeavor called UKZ. Pleased in that Gunn being in the band suggested a direction that would be a departure from the 70's "brand" of UK. Surprised in that I couldn't quite imagine what the combination would sound like.
Now that UKZ's first video and EP are out, we can begin to see what the amalgam of these two gentlemen and three other top-notch musicians may produce. And it's promising so far. "Radiation" (see video below) dispels any notion that UKZ is a 70's nostalgia band. Containing a mix of modern Crimson, Nine Inch Nails, digital synth textures and a hair-raising Jobson violin solo, it's both familiar and new at the same time. And not wanting for energy.
The "Radition" EP acts as a calling card, hinting at what the band may be capable of live as well as the music that they will (hopefully) continue to develop into a full album. As for their live work, I'll have the chance to check that out next weekend in NYC when UKZ plays a one-city "launch tour". Can't wait for that. If the EP is any indication, the energy coming off the stage should be significant.
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