Reviews

5/6
So Guy Manning has left Cyclops for the more up and coming label in America called ProgRock Records. You can tell just by looking at the cover and the booklet. I have rarely seen anything quite as spectacular as this. It’s done by Ed Unitsky – the same man who did the two The Tangent albums. Ok – so the cover is great, what about the lyrics and the music? Speaking of the former first, Guy has taken up the thread that he started on his first album – "Tall Stories For Small Children". Which means that we get to hear what happened to Abel Mann. 

It has become a very dark album lyric wise, but it suites the music perfectly. The music is also rather perfect. "A Matter Of Life And Death" certainly is among Manning’s best album, if not the best. It may have taken me a bit longer to digest and get this album under my skin, but that’s just a sign of longevity and quality. You get up tempo rocking songs with moog solos, longer, more epic compositions, acoustic songs, and they all wear Manning’s trademark. Beautiful melodies, and superb arrangements. As I already mentioned, it has become a dark album, but also a great one.

 This album is a must for all fans of good music, including the fans that follow The Tangent, the band where Guy manning also plays an important part.

- Bjørn Nørsterud -