I was just re-listening to some Sonny Sharrock boots the other day and pulled this out to give it another spin. Either my tastes have changed or an alchemical transubstantiation took place - this album is now pure gold! I thought it was great before, but it knocks my socks off and then eats them in front of me now. Last Exit were a monstrously punky free jazz supergroup (cribbing a bit from their Wikipedia article here), "composed of electric guitarist Sonny Sharrock, drummer/occasional vocalist Ronald Shannon Jackson, saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, and bass guitarist Bill Laswell." This list of names alone should be enough to make your ears bleed and your slack-jawed mouth drool. There is probably no kind of music these fellows can't play or haven't played - and extremely well at that.
This album is the result of a crazed tour of Europe and, uh, Pennsylvania, in 1987 - all live recordings with great sound. Here's a multiply misappropriated review from AMG (via Get Music, via Bill Laswell's website):
"Still live, still pumping big-time improvised noise wail. This one features a take of Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man" that sounds like no other version you've ever heard. This is mighty powerful stuff, and those a tad squeamish when it comes to full-bore noisemaking and improvised energy should explore this record only with proper supervision. There's no telling what will happen if you're left alone with these guys for any length of time." -- John Dugan
Last Exit - Cassette Recordings '87 1. Line of Fire
2. Big Boss Man
3. Sore Titties
4. Ulli Bulli Fooli
5. Ma Rainey
6. My Balls/Your Chin
Recorded live in Copenhagen, Denmark and Allentown, Pennsylvania
Mixed by Robert Musso at Quad Recording, NYC
Sonny Sharrock : guitar; Peter Brotzmann : tenor, alto, bass saxophones, taragato; Bill Laswell : Fender 6 string bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson : drums, voice.
1988 - Enemy/Celluloid, 8140 (Vinyl)
1993 - Celluloid (USA), CELD 6140 (CD)
1995 - Enemy (USA), 105 (CD)
This version is ripped from the 1993 CD on Celluloid.