Reviews
REVIEW OF - "A MATTER OF LIFE &* DEATH"
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Henri Strik - Background Magazine |
One of my fellow reviewers once got a copy of a Guy Manning album to review. He
did find it difficult to review because he had no feeling with the music. At the
time I did not know anything by this musician and could not know if he was
right. But recently I had the chance to review his latest album "A Matter Of
Life & Death". This time under the name Manning. After hearing this band effort
I can only come to one conclusion. They made a very beautiful album which
reminded me a lot of Jethro Tull. Guy's lead vocals resambles a lot Ian
Anderson's voice. But also the folk influences played on mandolins, acoustic
guitars, cellos and fiddles could have been on any Tull record. The musicians
Laura Fowles (sax and vocals), Gareth Harwood electric guitars and vocals),Rick
Asthon (bass and vocals) and Guy Manning (keyboards, guitars, bass, drums and
mandolin) himself produced a tasteful concept album about Abel Mann. Also the
help of several guest musicians made the album even stronger. A good example is
the way Andy Tillison played Moog and keyboards on two tracks ("The dream" and
"Midnight sail"). His sound reminded me a lot of the two Tangent albums. So it
is easy for me to say that I certainly had a feeling with the music on "A Matter
Of Life & Death". But to have a feeling with music is mostly a matter of taste
and not a matter of life and death. Thank God not. So it was for me easy to
review this fine album. I always loved the folk and progressive rock side of
Jethro Tull and therefore I loved this disc very much.
**** (Henri)
