2 OZS OF PLASTIC WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

Prelude and The Storm pretty are pretty much one track, Prelude opening with tympani, organ and some harmonies, no words, just ahs if you catch my drift before giving way to piano which segues into The Storm. Slowly strummed guitars and seagull effects build up with the introduction of further instrumentation and effects on this more or less ambient piece into something that replicates a storm. It gradually fades into something more structured, sweetly picked acoustic and electric guitar, light drum work and those ah vocals are back. What this part has to do with a storm beats me, perhaps the calm after the storm is over? We then revert to the theme introduced at the start of The Storm. Unfortunately it hasn't stood the test of time too well and I can't see the current incarnation of Man being in any hurry to resurrect it.

It Is As It Must Be is better. Heavy bluesy psychedelic rock is the order of the day. It's a bit repetitive until it speeds up midway but the band start introducing longer guitar solos which are a staple of later Man songs.

Side 2 kicks off with Spunk Box, later to be known as Spunk Rock in its numerous live appearances. Much shorter here than it ever was live but it's still a lively bluesy rocker.

My Name is Jesus Smith is more commercial and has an American West Coast feel to it, where Man have drawn much influence from over the years. It's a bit weak but fortunately not too long.

Parchment and Candles is a twee instrumental which could have easily sat on their first album and it sounds very dated with it's 60's style harpsichord so prevalent on many 60's songs. It could easily be a soundtrack to one of those 60's TV shows like Randall and Hopkirk.

Brother Arnold's Red and White Striped Tent is better. It's another bluesy rocker which like Spunk Box and It Is As It Must Be looks towards the future development of the band but ultimately lacks the spark of future work.

Overall then 2oz of Plastic With a Hole in the Middle sees Man bridging the gap between their more commercial 1960's psychedelic tinged debut and with what was to come in the 70's, the American west coast influenced psychedelic jam band. As a result it's quite experimental in places, some of it works, some doesn't but it's a step in the right direction even if the overall results were less than spectacular. 2 ½ stars.

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