PROGRESSIVEWORLD.NET: REVIEWS BY JOHN "BOBO" BOLLENBERG

ProgressiveWorld.net - Your Ultimate Guide to Progressive Music

Manning - The View From My Window

Manning - The View From My Window
Released: 2003
Label: Cyclops
Cat. No.: CYCL 136
Total Time: 56:09

Reviewed by: John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, April 2004
With as main sales argument the twenty minute long epic based on dreams: "Dreams," this is already the fifth album for Guy Manning. Once again this multi-instrumentalist has surrounded himself with loads of guests, one of whom is Andy Tillison, known from his own band Parallel or 90 Degrees and the project The Tangent with Roine Stolt (the latter of which Manning is also a member). We also note the striking Candy Dulfer resemblance of saxophone player Laura Fowles, the saxophone being an instrument that keeps on recurring into Manning’s work. By introducing a royal selection of acoustic instruments, also some world music keeps popping up, whilst the melody is becoming more and more important. By working with ex-Housemartins drummer Hugh Whitaker, this new album has gained maturity, resulting in technical wizardry being replaced by catchy compositions. Only Guy Manning’s voice remains a difficult element. As with Peter Hammill, he also has a "love or hate" kind of voice. Then again a song such as "After The Rain" has that folky feeling you sometimes come across in the Jethro Tull discography. The long epic "Dreams" is indeed a stew filled with various influences ranging from folk, jazz, symphonic rock to minimalistic music. It’s a wonderful little album, but sadly not the one that will put Guy Manning firmly on the map worldwide!

[See also Steph's review- ed.]

More about The View From My Window:

Track Listing: Phase (The Open & The Widening Sky) (7:23) / The View From My Window (9:07) / The Rut (8:04) / After The (Tears In The) Rain (5:18) / Blue Girl (6:14) / Suite: Dreams: i) Dreamian Rhapsody – ii) On the Carousel – iii) In Slumbers – iv) A Visit To The Sandman – v) R.E.M. – vi) From Slumbers (20:03)

Musicians:
Guy Manning – vocals, keyboards, bass, mandolin, 6 & 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, drums and percussion
Rick Ashton – bass
Gareth Harwood – electric guitars
Laura Fowles – saxophones, vocals

Guests:

Andy Tillison – organ (1), piano (4, 6 i), 6 ii)), synth solo (6 v)), drums (1, 5)
Pav Chana – percussion (2,3)
Hugh Whitaker – drums (4, 5), percussion (3)
Tim Moon – flute (6 iv)), fiddle (6 iii), 6 v)), whistles (2), cello (4)

Contact:

Website: www.guymanning.com
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Tall Stories For Small Children (1999)
The Cure (2000)
Cascade (2001)
The Ragged Curtain (2003)
The View From My Window (2003)
A Matter Of Life & Death - The Journey Of Abel Mann (2004)
One Small Step (2005)

[Review Index] [Home]

© Copyright 2003 ProgressiveWorld.net

	Manning - The View From My Window
	Released: 2003 Label: Cyclops Cat. No.: CYCL 136 Total Time: 56:09
	Reviewed by: John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, April 2004 With as main sales argument the twenty minute long epic based on dreams: "Dreams," this is already the fifth album for Guy Manning. Once again this multi-instrumentalist has surrounded himself with loads of guests, one of whom is Andy Tillison, known from his own band Parallel or 90 Degrees and the project The Tangent with Roine Stolt (the latter of which Manning is also a member). We also note the striking Candy Dulfer resemblance of saxophone player Laura Fowles, the saxophone being an instrument that keeps on recurring into Manning’s work. By introducing a royal selection of acoustic instruments, also some world music keeps popping up, whilst the melody is becoming more and more important. By working with ex-Housemartins drummer Hugh Whitaker, this new album has gained maturity, resulting in technical wizardry being replaced by catchy compositions. Only Guy Manning’s voice remains a difficult element. As with Peter Hammill, he also has a "love or hate" kind of voice. Then again a song such as "After The Rain" has that folky feeling you sometimes come across in the Jethro Tull discography. The long epic "Dreams" is indeed a stew filled with various influences ranging from folk, jazz, symphonic rock to minimalistic music. It’s a wonderful little album, but sadly not the one that will put Guy Manning firmly on the map worldwide! [See also Steph's review- ed.] More about The View From My Window: Track Listing: Phase (The Open & The Widening Sky) (7:23) / The View From My Window (9:07) / The Rut (8:04) / After The (Tears In The) Rain (5:18) / Blue Girl (6:14) / Suite: Dreams: i) Dreamian Rhapsody – ii) On the Carousel – iii) In Slumbers – iv) A Visit To The Sandman – v) R.E.M. – vi) From Slumbers (20:03) Musicians: Guy Manning – vocals, keyboards, bass, mandolin, 6 & 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, drums and percussion Rick Ashton – bass Gareth Harwood – electric guitars Laura Fowles – saxophones, vocals Guests: Andy Tillison – organ (1), piano (4, 6 i), 6 ii)), synth solo (6 v)), drums (1, 5) Pav Chana – percussion (2,3) Hugh Whitaker – drums (4, 5), percussion (3) Tim Moon – flute (6 iv)), fiddle (6 iii), 6 v)), whistles (2), cello (4) Contact: Website: www.guymanning.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Tall Stories For Small Children (1999) The Cure (2000) Cascade (2001) The Ragged Curtain (2003) The View From My Window (2003) A Matter Of Life & Death - The Journey Of Abel Mann (2004) One Small Step (2005)
	[Review Index] [Home] © Copyright 2003 ProgressiveWorld.net