The now-defunct New England jazz-rock outfit headed by Geoff Farina and known as Karate had led an expansive career that has left many fans in their wake. Though known for its live shows, 595 is their first official live record. As Farina states, “We’ve heard countless live recordings of the 694 shows we played between 1993-2005, but this recording of #595 is surely our favorite.” It’s easy to see why. The recording is well captured, transporting the listener to an intimate club setting. Each instrument has its own distinct signature, so that when you hear a guitar solo, the attention of the sound is placed there, as though you expect to turn your head towards stage left and see it happening. Recording quality is an important aspect of a live record, and though it doesn’t compare to the importance of the material itself, this is where Karate shines. Maintaining an air of improvisation and interpretation of their material, Karate manage to come back from jazz deviations straight into solid pop songwriting. This is best shown with the track “Airport,” which has all of the energy and cunning of a live show experience with the pop sensibility indie radio.
– Chris Smith