Post by C.Cat on Aug 24, 2008 20:37:48 GMT
6PM - Phil Manzanera
Musicians:
Phil Manzanera - Guitars, vocals, keyboards
with:
Paul Thompson - Drums
Chrissie Hynde - Backing vocals, harmonica
Brian Eno - Enotonic treatments
Robert Wyatt - Drums, trumpet, vocals, keys
Andy Mackay - Sax, oboe
David Gilmour - Lad guitar on track 12 & 13
Claire Singers - Vocals
Yarron Stavi - Double bass
Brendan Jury - Viola
Nigel Simpson - Piano
Jamie Johnson - Bass guitar
Bill MacCormick - Bass guitar solo
Released in 2004, 6PM is Phil Manzanera's 6th solo album as the title cleverly tells us. It draws it's influences from the 60s, in particular his time in London from 1967 onwards. Like all of Phil's albums, it's a very personal creation. He's worked with old friends like Eno and Robert Wyatt to create a beautiful album that is typically his style, yet also quite unlike his previous work.
Tracks:
1.Broken Dreams
This is a very moving opening track, it's about the shock Phil felt when his father died. His lyrics and guitar playing convay a lot of emotion, and sometimes I find it too strong to listen to.
10/10
2.Green Spikey Cactus
In this song, Phil strikes out against the injustices in the world with lyrics like "There's a twister coming armadillo/A rattlesnake hiding in the bush/Bite the dust low down senorito/The sand is all run out and you're bust" while Chrissie Hynde provides some crazy harmonica playing and backing vocals. At the end, Andy Mackay comes in with a bazzin' sax solo!
10/10
3. Love Devotion
I'm not normally interested in delicate love songs, but I find this one to be beautiful and deeply moving. Phil's "Soul mate and muse" Claire does heartfelt backing vocals, and Andy's awsome oboe soars throughout the track
9/10
4.Wish You Well
This was written as a tribute to Phil's friend, the late Ian MacDonald. Ian was a music journalist who wrote a book about the Beatles. Listening to it has made me come close to crying on more than one occasion, especialy as I heard the lines "And somewhere/Far on a red horizon/Your flame/Lightens a darkened mind".
10/10
5.6PM
The title track is an exellent showcase for Phil's passionate guitar playing, and Brendan Jury's viola lifts it perfectly. I find it's great to listen to when you're travelling at high speed on country roads in the West of Ireland!
10/10
6. Waiting for the Sun to Shine
This starts off sounding a little depressing - "I'm walking down the road/A ten ton weight on my head/on my head/Feeling cold/Feeling cold to the bone..." but it has an overall uplifting feeling of being positive, which is strengthened by Andy's sax skipping through the song.
9/10
7. Manzra
This is a pretty trippy sounding instrumental, and it seems to have a slightly sinister edge to it (but that might just be me). If you're not in the right mood for it, it could seem a bit strange and unsettling, but it does have a subtle type of hypnotic beauty.
9/10
8.Cissbury Ring
This is the first part of a psychedelic short story which takes the listener on a "Hardy-esque/magical mystery tour of the South Downs in England". The music is enchanting, with a strong lead guitar part from Phil and echoing trumpet from Robert Wyatt.
10/10
9. Porlock
Porlock is a short instrumental piece co-written by Robert Wyatt that links into the next part of the story.
10. Shoreline
This part of the story is about death, and although it is very bleak it's still enjoyable to listen to. Andy's oboe almost sounds like some kind of bird, lost and alone...
10/10
11. Always You
The next part of the story is about love. It has a gentle, soothing sound, and Phil's voice is filled with real emotion.
9/10
12. Sacred Days
The story now reaches it's climax with a song about "Final Transcendence". David Gilmore playes a dazzling lead guitar part, and the whole song has a magical, uplifting feel to it which makes it a pretty good ending for the album.
10/10
Overall rating - 10/10
Musicians:
Phil Manzanera - Guitars, vocals, keyboards
with:
Paul Thompson - Drums
Chrissie Hynde - Backing vocals, harmonica
Brian Eno - Enotonic treatments
Robert Wyatt - Drums, trumpet, vocals, keys
Andy Mackay - Sax, oboe
David Gilmour - Lad guitar on track 12 & 13
Claire Singers - Vocals
Yarron Stavi - Double bass
Brendan Jury - Viola
Nigel Simpson - Piano
Jamie Johnson - Bass guitar
Bill MacCormick - Bass guitar solo
Released in 2004, 6PM is Phil Manzanera's 6th solo album as the title cleverly tells us. It draws it's influences from the 60s, in particular his time in London from 1967 onwards. Like all of Phil's albums, it's a very personal creation. He's worked with old friends like Eno and Robert Wyatt to create a beautiful album that is typically his style, yet also quite unlike his previous work.
Tracks:
1.Broken Dreams
This is a very moving opening track, it's about the shock Phil felt when his father died. His lyrics and guitar playing convay a lot of emotion, and sometimes I find it too strong to listen to.
10/10
2.Green Spikey Cactus
In this song, Phil strikes out against the injustices in the world with lyrics like "There's a twister coming armadillo/A rattlesnake hiding in the bush/Bite the dust low down senorito/The sand is all run out and you're bust" while Chrissie Hynde provides some crazy harmonica playing and backing vocals. At the end, Andy Mackay comes in with a bazzin' sax solo!
10/10
3. Love Devotion
I'm not normally interested in delicate love songs, but I find this one to be beautiful and deeply moving. Phil's "Soul mate and muse" Claire does heartfelt backing vocals, and Andy's awsome oboe soars throughout the track
9/10
4.Wish You Well
This was written as a tribute to Phil's friend, the late Ian MacDonald. Ian was a music journalist who wrote a book about the Beatles. Listening to it has made me come close to crying on more than one occasion, especialy as I heard the lines "And somewhere/Far on a red horizon/Your flame/Lightens a darkened mind".
10/10
5.6PM
The title track is an exellent showcase for Phil's passionate guitar playing, and Brendan Jury's viola lifts it perfectly. I find it's great to listen to when you're travelling at high speed on country roads in the West of Ireland!
10/10
6. Waiting for the Sun to Shine
This starts off sounding a little depressing - "I'm walking down the road/A ten ton weight on my head/on my head/Feeling cold/Feeling cold to the bone..." but it has an overall uplifting feeling of being positive, which is strengthened by Andy's sax skipping through the song.
9/10
7. Manzra
This is a pretty trippy sounding instrumental, and it seems to have a slightly sinister edge to it (but that might just be me). If you're not in the right mood for it, it could seem a bit strange and unsettling, but it does have a subtle type of hypnotic beauty.
9/10
8.Cissbury Ring
This is the first part of a psychedelic short story which takes the listener on a "Hardy-esque/magical mystery tour of the South Downs in England". The music is enchanting, with a strong lead guitar part from Phil and echoing trumpet from Robert Wyatt.
10/10
9. Porlock
Porlock is a short instrumental piece co-written by Robert Wyatt that links into the next part of the story.
10. Shoreline
This part of the story is about death, and although it is very bleak it's still enjoyable to listen to. Andy's oboe almost sounds like some kind of bird, lost and alone...
10/10
11. Always You
The next part of the story is about love. It has a gentle, soothing sound, and Phil's voice is filled with real emotion.
9/10
12. Sacred Days
The story now reaches it's climax with a song about "Final Transcendence". David Gilmore playes a dazzling lead guitar part, and the whole song has a magical, uplifting feel to it which makes it a pretty good ending for the album.
10/10
Overall rating - 10/10