Sixty Minutes With
Voiceprint, 2007
http://http://www.manband.co.uk/
REVIEW BY: David Bowling
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/07/2007
Man is one of those groups that has produced some solid rock and roll during their 40+ year career but has flown under the commercial radar.
A Welsh band formed in 1964, Man has undergone many personnel changes, but are most likely known for their '60s lineup, where they produced a California psychedelic rock sounds, comparable to Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Sixty Minutes With is a compilation of some of the best material, which adds up to a solid album, especially for fans of 60s-era progressive rock. The musicianship is consistently excellent, especially the guitar work and Terry Williams' drums (Williams would go on to play with Dire Straits for a number of years). It is this guitar and drum interplay that allows Man to produce some interesting and consistently top-notch music.
“Romain” is a bluesy piece that features a nice slide guitar effect. This song is very emblematic of what was going on in mid-60s rock as it began to progress toward the heavy and experimental sound of the early 70s. “Many Are Called But Few Get Up” shows the guitar and drum interplay mentioned earlier, while “The Wings Of Mercury” may be the best song on the album, a bit like the Moody Blues, cosmic lyrics and all.
“Call Down The Moon” and “Bananas Parts 1 And 2” are the longest two songs on the album, clocking in at about 25 minutes altogether. The vocals on both tracks are really unnecessary, as the instruments dominate, and it's tough to keep the listener's attention. Shame, because there are some great riffs and interesting structures buried in the mix.
“Diamonds And Coal” is the final song on the album, showing the modern-day incarnation of the group and featuring a sound that does not fit with the rest of the disc, though it's still a decent song.
All in all, Sixty Minutes With is an interesting trip back to a time that is quickly disappearing. Man makes it a nice place to visit.