MANNING: One Small Step…

Cover	Release	Style
	2005	Progressive rock
	Label
	Progrock Records
	Website
	Guy Manning
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	57:43	PRR139
	Review by	Rating
	Edwin	9/10
nederlands	Review
With the regularity of a clock, Guy Manning has released a solo album every year since 1999’s ‘Tall Stories For Small Children’. ‘One Small Step…’ is the latest addition to his discography, and it is an excellent one. This album is a solo album in the truest sense of the meaning. Guy Manning wrote, produced, sang and played nearly everything himself, with the help of just a few guest musicians to round out the sound. It’s not easy to describe Manning’s music - he mixes elements of singer/songwriter stuff, folk, country, symfo & prog rock and quality pop into a style very much his own. The most obvious comparison would be Jethro Tull, not in the least because of Manning’s voice, which is quite like Ian Anderson’s, and the use of flutes (played by IQ’s Martin Orford). It never becomes a Tull copy, though – this cd is much too diverse for that. ‘In Swingtime’ is an acoustically driven song, with some very nice orchestration and a great saxophone solo which brings about a bit of a Gerry Rafferty (‘Baker Street’) feel. ‘Night Voices’, with Manning in his best storytelling-mode, is probably my favourite on the album and can best be compared to the early Chris de Burgh; this is a great song with a haunting chorus that keeps spinning in my head. ‘No Hiding Place’ is also a very adventurous song, with lots of things happening – no chance of getting bored here… And then there’s the title track, on which Manning unleashes everything he’s got: it’s an 8-part, over 30-minutes epic which has traces of Tull, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Spock’s Beard, Cat Stevens, R.E.M.,… you name it. Really great stuff. The only track that is a bit less interesting is ‘The Mexico Line’. A terrific album, with a distinctive sound and intelligent lyrics. Arguably one of 2005’s highlights.
Musicians
Guy Manning: Vocals, keyboards, acoustic 6 & 12 string & classical guitars, mandolins, electric guitar, bass, drums & percussion, kitchen sink Laura Fowles: Saxophones and vocals Gareth Harwood: Electric lead guitars Ian Fairbairn: Fiddle Rick Ashton: Additional bass & backing vocals Martin Orford: Flute
Tracklist
In Swingtime Night Voices No Hiding Place The Mexico Line One Small Step (Parts I-VIII): - Star Gazing - For Example… - At The End Of My Rope - Man Of God - A Blink Of The Eye - God Of Man - Black And Blue - Upon Returning
Discography
Tall Stories For Small Children (1999) The Cure (2000) Cascade (2001) The Ragged Curtain (2002) The View From My Window (2003) A Matter Of Life And Death (2004) One Small Step… (2005)


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